Box Score

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Freshman Joshua Richardson (Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Hazel Crest, Ill.) led four Augustana players with double-digit kills Saturday and classmate Ryan Hirschel (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.) dished out 45 assists as the Vikings won the first home match in program history three games to one over Judson at Carver Center. Coach Mark Lau's squad improved to 1-1 on the season, while the visiting Eagles dropped to 0-2.
 
Freshman Jason Szara (Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort, Ill.) had a pair of kills and Hirschel two aces as the hosts jumped in front 4-0 in game one. Judson cut it to 4-2 courtesy of two Augustana errors, but the Vikings responded with kills by Richardson and classmates Justin Murphy (Glenbard East HS, Lombard, Ill.) and Dylan Baum (Warrensburg-Latham HS, Decatur, Ill.) to re-establish control. The Eagles eventually got as close as 20-19, but a Szara kill turned the momentum back in Augustana's favor and the Vikings took the next three points with freshman Andrew Housholder (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville, Ill.) serving. Hirschel set Richardson for a kill to close out a 25-20 win.
 
Set two was tight early. Judson led 7-6 after a Jacob Wallin kill, but Szara answered with his own to tie it. Then, with freshman Brett Kliegl (Neuqua Valley HS, Bolingbrook, Ill.) serving, Augustana won five straight points to go up 12-7. Richardson had two kills in the run. The Eagles got as close as 13-10 before the Vikings responded by winning three consecutive points to go up 16-10. Five points would be as close as the visitors would get the rest of the way and set point again came on a Richardson kill from Hirschel, as Augustana won 25-19.
 
Judson rebounded to win the third game 25-22. They took the lead 7-6 on a Viking attack error and eventually extended the advantage to 21-16. Baum had a pair of kills in a 6-1 run that pulled Augustana even at 22-all. A Hirschel ace tied it, but the Eagles won the last three points, closing out the set with consecutive aces by Manny Andrade.
 
The hosts took control early in set four, jumping in front 9-2 behind a pair of Murphy kills. Judson would get no closer than five points the rest of the way. Match point came on a Judson service error.
 
Richardson led the way with 13 kills and no errors in 16 attempts for a crisp attack percentage of .813. Murphy and Sazara added a dozen kills each and Baum 11. In addition to his match-high 45 assists, Hirschel tallied five service aces, 10 digs and two blocks. Freshman Matthew Schiferl (Wheeling HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) contributed a match-high 13 digs.
 
Four players had four kills for the Eagles, including Andrade, who also had 15 assists, six aces and five blocks.
 
Lau's crew is back in action on Friday, January 26, doubling up with matches against Trinity Christian and Dominican in River Forest, Illinois.