Box Score

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Senior Emily Westermeyer (Huntley HS, Huntley, Ill.) led Augustana with 14 kills and junior Taryn VanEarwage (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) added 10, along with a match-high 25 digs Friday, as Augustana defeated Loras in straight sets at Carver Center. The Vikings improved to 10-13 on the year, while the Duhawks dropped to 9-14.
 
Augustana jumped in front 10-2 in the opening set. Loras whittled away at the deficit, eventually winning six straight points to pull within 23-20. However, a VanEarwage kill regained the serve for the Vikings and a Duhawk attack error and an Emily Uglem (Moorhead HS, Moorhead, Minn.) kill later, the set was over with Augustana on top 25-20. Westermeyer finished the game with six kills.
 
Behind three straight Kelly Boge kills, Loras took a 4-1 lead in the second game and the hosts would play from behind nearly the whole way. They managed ties at 10, 15, 18 and 23-all, but were facing set point, trailing 24-23 after a Michelle Budden kill. Westermeyer tied it again at 24-all with a kill and a Claire Martin (Mother McAuley HS, Orland Park, Ill.) service ace gave Augustana its first lead of the game. Westermeyer followed with her fifth kill of the set to end it 26-24 in favor of the Vikings.
 
Six different players recorded seven kills as Augustana went ahead 9-6 in set three. The Duhawks pulled even at 10 and 12-all, but a Westermeyer kill gave the Vikings the lead for good at 13-12 and sparked a 4-0 run that pushed the margin to 16-12. The visitors would get no closer than three points the rest of the way and it ended 25-19. VanEarwage kills accounted for Augustana's final three points of the match. 
 
Martin chipped in with 24 digs on the night and junior McKenzie Zambrano (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) had 24 assists.
 
On Tuesday, October 17, Bethke's bunch travels to Chicago, Illinois to face North Park in a 7:00 p.m. match.