ROCK ISLAND, Ill. –  Coach Kelly Bethke's Augustana volleyball team wrapped up the 2018 regular season in successful fashion Friday, with a pair of straight-set victories

over Simpson and Illinois Tech at the Pumpkin Bash. The win over Illinois Tech was also preceded by Senior Night activities, as the Vikings honored eight seniors in possibly their final Carver Center appearance. Bethke's club improved to 16-13 on the year.
 
AUGUSTANA 3, SIMPSON 0 (25-16; 25-23; 25-8)
 
Augustana made quick work of the Storm in the Vikings' opening match, taking straight sets by scores of 25-16, 25-23 and 25-8. Simpson dropped to 8-18 on the season.
 
Taryn VanEarwage (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) had two kills and Emily Uglem (Moorhead HS, Moorhead, Minn.) and Grace Bialobok (Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Homewood, Ill.) one each, as Augustana jumped in front 6-2 in game one. The Vikings eventually extended the lead to 17-9 on a VanEarwage kill before Simpson answered with three straight points to get within five. Another VanEarwage kill ended the Storm run and the hosts went on to win 25-16, with Bialobok and Sierra Erke (Quincy HS, Quincy, Ill.) combining on a block for set point.
 
Game two was tight the entire way. Only twice did either team lead by more than two points. Consecutive Bialobok kills gave Augustana a 12-9 advantage and Simpson led 20-17 after a Viking attack error. However, Uglem had a pair of kills as Augustana took five of the next six points to go up 22-21. There were ties at 22 and 23 before a Storm attack error and a VanEarwage service ace gave the Vikings a 25-23 win.
 
It was all Augustana in game three. Only twice did the Vikings surrender consecutive points to Simpson. After an Augustana attack error, the Storm got to within 8-5, but a pair of Uglem kills started a 4-0 Viking run as the hosts claimed 17 of the last 20 points. Junior Madi Glatz (Morton HS, Morton, Ill.) and freshman Olivia Doak (Crystal Lake Central HS, Crystal Lake, Ill.) each served for a stretch of five straight points in Augustana's closing push. Match point came on a kill by senior Bianca Ori (Antioch HS, Antioch, Ill.).
 
Uglem led the Vikings with 13 kills. McKenzie Zambrano (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) had a 27 assists and a pair of aces. Doak also had two aces, Glatz 16 digs and Erke four blocks. All were match bests. Victoria Biggerstaff (Broomfield HS, Broomfield, Colo.) chipped in with 14 digs and VanEarwage finished with seven kills and nine digs.
 
AUGUSTANA 3, ILLINOIS TECH 0 (25-17; 25-17; 27-25)
 
The Vikings finished off the Pumpkin Bash by handling Illinois Tech in straight sets as well. The Scarlet Hawks fell to 5-20 on the year.
 
The Vikings benefitted from five service aces on their way to a 25-17 game-one win. Two in a row by VanEarwage broke a six-all tie and gave Augustana the lead for good.  The Scarlet Hawks stayed within striking distance until consecutive kills by VanEarwage, Biggerstaff and Erke stretched the margin to 20-15. Augustana claimed the last four points as well, with an Erke kill accounting for set point.
 
VanEarwage delivered six kills in the Vikings' final 15 points as they won 25-17 again in game two. A Brooke Harmon (Lindbergh HS, St. Louis, Mo.) kill broke the final tie at four-all and VanEarwage's first kill of the set eventually made it 11-8. The margin reached seven, at 18-11, following an IIT attack error and the Scarlet Hawks would get no closer than five points the rest of the way. Freshman Jordan Dryfhout (Chicago Christian HS, Orland Park, Ill.) set VanEarwage for a kill and set point.
 
Bethke substituted liberally as Augustana closed out the match with a 27-25 win in set three. An IIT attack error gave the Vikings a 2-1 lead and with the exception of ties at 10, 11 and 13, they would maintain it until a Helen Leach kill pulled the Scarlet Hawks even at 20-all. An Augustana attack error gave IIT its first lead (21-20) since 1-0. The Scarlet Hawks would also lead at 23-22 before the Vikings fought of set points trailing 24-23 and 25-24. Harmon had a kill and an ace to get Augustana to match point and an IIT attack error provided it.  
 
Bialobok finished with a match-high 10 kills, one more than VanEarwage, who also contributed 15 digs and three aces. Zambrano had 20 assists and Doak added 14. Harmon had a team-best three blocks.
 
Along with VanEarwage, Uglem, Zambrano, Biggerstaff and Ori, Augustana also recognized Hannah Moore (Schaumburg HS, Schaumburg, Ill.), Kayla Heflin (St. Charles North HS, St. Charles, Ill.) and three-year varsity player and current student assistant coach Sierra Rood (Lena-Winslow HS, Lena, Ill.) during Senior Night festivities.
 
Next up for Bethke's bunch will be CCIW Tournament play, with pairings and sights still to be determined.