WHEATON, Ill. – Augustana bounced back from a first-set loss and a big deficit in game two Tuesday to down Wheaton 3-1 at King Arena. Coach Kelly Bethke's squad improved to 10-12 on the season and 4-3 in the CCIW, while the Thunder fell to 13-9 overall and 2-4 in the league.
 
Colleen Smith had two kills as Wheaton bolted to a 12-5 lead in the first set. Behind two kills each from senior Brooke Harmon (Lindbergh HS, St. Louis, Mo.) and freshman Ja'Nya Davis (Narbonne HS, Harbor City, Calif.), the Vikings answered with an 11-5 run to get within 17-16, but the Thunder took five of the next six points and went on to win 25-20. Set point came on an Augustana error.
 
The Vikings dug out of a 21-12 hole to take the second game 25-22. Deborah Smith had four kills as the hosts built their lead, but sophomore Olivia Doak (Crystal Lake Central HS, Crystal Lake, Ill.) set senior Grace Bialobok (Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Homewood, Ill.) for a kill that turned the tide in Augustana's favor. Davis had two kills and was in on three straight blocks, including two with senior Taylor Steger (Red Wing HS, Goodhue, Minn.), to finish off a 12-0 run that gave the Vikings a 24-21 advantage. Naomi Bunker's kill stemmed the tide only temporarily, as freshman Abby Phalen's (Mendota HS, Mendota, Ill.) third kill of the game gave Augustana set point.
 
Game three was close the entire way. The margin reached as much as three points just three times, all with the Thunder on top. An Audrey Gerze kill gave the hosts their final three-point edge at 23-30, but a Wheaton service error gave the serve back to Harmon and the Vikings. A Thunder attacker error and kills by Bialobok and Davis got the visitors to set point and another Wheaton attack error provided it, as Augustana came out a 25-23 winner.
 
Set four was tight as well. There were 10 ties in the game's first 36 points and only when the Vikings took a 23-19 lead on a bad Thunder set did the margin reach four points. After a Bialobok kill made it 24-21, the Thunder fought off three match points and a Gerze kill gave them a 25-24 advantage. However, a Wheaton attack error tied it at 25-all and a Phalen kill and a Savana Sparks (Maroa-Forsyth HS, Maroa, Ill.) ace closed out a 27-25 Augustana win.
 
Bialobok's 15 kills led the attack for Bethke's crew, but she got ample help. Harmon and Davis chipped in a dozen each and Phalen, seeing her first significant varsity action, contributed nine. Doak had 39 assists and Sparks three aces. Junior Jessica Nguyen (Kaneland HS, Elburn, Ill.) had a match-high 24 digs and was joined in doubles digits by Doak (13) and Sparks (10). Davis added a match-best six blocks.
 
Deborah Smith's 14 kills led the Thunder.
 
On Saturday, October 19, the Vikings host Wisconsin-Platteville and Luther at Carver Center. They're scheduled to face the Pioneers at 11:30 a.m. and the Norse at 3:30 p.m.