WINONA, Minn. – Augustana opened the 2018 women's volleyball season with a split at the Sugar Loaf Classic in Winona, Minnesota at St. Mary's University on Friday, August 31. The Vikings bounced back from a 2-1 deficit in the first match to defeat Edgewood 3-2 (25-21; 20-25; 17-25; 25-19; 15-5) but were swept in the second match of the day to the hosts (St. Mary's) by a score of 3-0 (22-25; 20-25; 22-25).
 
Head coach Kelly Bethke's team will play Northland and Dominican on Saturday, September 1.
 
08/31/18 – AUGUSTANA 3, EDGEWOOD 2 (25-21; 20-25; 17-25; 25-19; 15-5)
 
Battling back from a two sets to one deficit, Augustana handled Edgewood in sets four and five and picked up a 3-2 win over Edgewood in the first volleyball match of the 2018 season. The Vikings of head coach Kelly Bethke earned the win at the Sugar Loaf Classic in Winona, Minnesota on the campus of St. Mary's University.
 
Bethke went deep into her bench in the opening match of the season as a total of 15 players saw action with eight of those playing in all five sets. Senior Emily Uglem (Moorhead HS, Moorhead, Minn.) was the offensive leader as she recorded 13 kills in 47 attack attempts. She also contributed five digs and a solo block. Fellow senior Taryn VanEarwage (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) and junior Grace Bialobok (Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Homewood, Ill.) each had nine kills on the afternoon. VanEarwage picked up 16 digs, three service aces and two assisted blocks while Bialobok chipped in with five assisted blocks.
 
Bethke used three setters in the match with senior McKenzie Zambrano picking up 21 assists and 10 digs. Junior Brooke Keegan (Hall Township HS, Ladd, Ill.) had 10 assists and freshman Olivia Doak (Crystal Lake Central HS, Crystal Lake, Ill.) added 10 assists and five digs.
 
Sophomore Jessica Nguyen (Kaneland HS, Elburn, Ill.) led the team in digs with 29.
 
Trailing 2-1 in the fourth set the Vikings were down 11-6 and things certainly looked bleak. However, Bethke's bunch ripped off six straight points to take a 12-11 lead with Uglem serving during that entire stretch. The score was tied 14-14 when Zambrano served two straight points to give Augustana some breathing room at 16-14.
 
The Vikings never relinquished the lead and Doak served the last four points with Uglem getting the kill on set point off an assist by Doak to secure the game 25-19.
 
In the deciding fifth set the score was tied 2-2 when Augustana rolled off three points to make it 5-2. Edgewood closed the margin to 6-5 when the Eagles Grace Zimmer picked up a kill from Alex Zapuchlak. That would be the last score for Edgewood, however as Augustana ripped off 10 straight points behind the serving of Doak to seal the opening match victory. Fittingly, Doak had the final assist as she set junior Taylor Steger (Red Wing HS, Goodhue, Minn.), playing close to home, for the kill that ended the match.
 
08/31/18 – St. Mary's 3, Augustana 0 (25-22; 25-20; 25-22)
 
After a come-from-behind win in the first match of the Sugar Loaf Classic over Edgewood, there was no magic in the season match against host St. Mary's on Friday, August 31 in Winona, Minnesota. The Cardinals picked up the victory in straight sets, winning 25-22; 25-20 and 25-22.
 
Three hitters for St. Mary's recorded double digits in kills as Rachel Kedl led the way with 11 and Brandi Blattner and Brittney Flom each had 10.
 
Augustana got seven kills from senior Victoria Biggerstaff (Broomfield HS, Broomfield, Colo.) and six out of senior Emily Uglem (Moorhead HS, Moorhead, Minn.), who had a team high 13 in the earlier win over Edgewood. Junior Grace Bialobok (Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Homewood, Ill.) had five kills and two blocking assists.
 
Biggerstaff and sophomore Jessica Nguyen (Kaneland HS, Elburn, Ill.) each had 11 digs. Senior McKenzie Zambrano (Rock Island HS, Rock Island, Ill.) led the team in assists with 12.