Box Score
The Augustana volleyball team started its season off with a win as the Vikings defeated the Regis Rangers 3-1 in the first match of the SpringHill Suites Invitational Thursday night at the Elmen Center. The Vikings won 25-18, 25-19, 16-25, and 25-21.
The No. 22 Vikings trailed in all four games, but were able to pull out the win behind the strong hitting of freshman outside hitter
Megan Bezdicek, who recorded a match-high 18 kills in her first career match as a Viking.
Freshman setter
Breanna Brandt also had a stellar first outing, recording 40 assists and 8 digs.
Regis started the first game on a four-point run, but Augie tied the game at 8-8 after a kill by senior
Jenna Hultgren. The Rangers would not see the lead again as the Vikings hit an impressive .394 percent in the first game, recording 15 digs and only two errors. They held Regis to a .152 attack percentage to win 25-18.
In the second, the teams traded points until the Vikings surged ahead 17-14 after an ace by freshman
Dani Haley followed by a Bezdicek kill. The Rangers once again could not answer with Augustana coming out on top 25-19
Regis surged back in the third game, pounding 14 kills and with only one error. The Rangers outscored the Vikings 10-5 to end the game 25-16.
The fourth was all the Vikings as they took an early 7-2 lead. Regis fought back to make the score 19-16, but strong defensive play at the net kept the Vikings alive to win 25-21.
For the Rangers, Jessica Howe recorded 12 kills and Erin Anderson added 11. Jordan Hughes led the team with 11 digs while Maggie Workman contributed 9 digs.
The Vikings will play again Friday against Chadron State at 1 p.m. before taking on conference foe Northern State at 7:30 p.m. Both matches will be at the Elmen Center.