Box Score

ADRIAN, Mich. – Augustana couldn't build on the momentum of Friday night's win at Olivet, falling in three sets at Adrian Saturday afternoon. The host Bulldogs downed the Vikings in three straight, 25-21, 25-22 and 27-25. Coach Mark Lau's club is now 9-16 on the season and 2-5 in the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League, while Adrian improved to 6-12 and 2-6, respectively.
 
Game one was tight the entire way. There were 15 ties, including the last at 21-21, before Adrian won the last four points. A Kevin Curley kill started the spree and set point came on an Augustana attack error.
 
The teams traded leads in the second game. A Bulldog attack error gave the Vikings a 10-7 advantage before Adrian came back to lead 16-13 after a Curley kill. An Andrew Housholder (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville, Ill.) kill sparked a 5-0 Augustana run, capped when Housholder and fellow freshman Ryan Hirschel (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.) teamed up on a block. There were ties at 18, 19 and 22 before the hosts won the last three points. A Noah Marcinkowski kill provided set point.
 
The Bulldogs won five of six points to go up 16-11 in game three. The Vikings still trailed by five at 19-14, but claimed seven of the next eight points, taking a 21-20 lead on a kill by freshman Dylan Baum (Warrensburg-Latham HS, Decatur, Ill.). A Jason Szara (Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort, Ill.) kill gave Augustana a 23-21 edge before Adrian won three straight points to go up 24-23. Lau's bunch fought off one match point before Marcinkowski's kill finished it.
 
Freshman Justin Murphy (Glenbard East HS, Lombard, Ill.) led the Vikings with 11 kills. Szara added nine and Housholder eight, along with a match-high five blocks. Hirschel had 36 assists and a pair of aces and Murphy, Baum and classmate Matthew Schiferl (Wheeling HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) each contributed eight digs.
 
Marcinkowski had a match-high 16 kills for the Bulldogs.
 
Augustana is in action next at Greenville on Friday, April 6 at 7:00 p.m.