BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Washington University defeated Augustana in straight sets Friday at Illinois Wesleyan's Holiday Inn Express Classic III at the Shirk Center. The Bears improved to 19-7 on the year, while the Vikings dropped to 11-15. Coach Kelly Bethke's outfit continues tournament play on Saturday, October 26, taking on Wisconsin-Oshkosh at 12:30 p.m. and Wisconsin-Eau Claire at 3:00 p.m.
 
WashU took set one by a score of 25-17. Augustana's only lead came at 4-3 after a Grace Bialobok (Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Homewood, Ill.) kill. A Leili King kill gave the Bears the lead for good at 5-4 and they claimed eight of the next 10 points to extend the advantage to 13-6. Set point came via a Viking service error.
 
Washington never trailed in a 25-13 set-two win. The Bears' Alaina Bohrer and Bialobok traded kills to open the game, but another by the WashU's Caitlin Lorenz gave her team the lead. Augustana achieved one final tie at 6-6 on a Bear attack error, but Bohrer answered with a kill and WashU would lead the rest of the way.
 
In game three, a Bear service error put the Vikings on top 4-3, but WashU took the next eight points and weren't threatened again. The Bears later added a 6-0 run on their way to a 25-12 victory. Match point came on a Zoe Baxter service ace.
 
Bialobok finished with a team-high eight kills and sophomore Olivia Doak (Crystal Lake Central HS, Crystal Lake, Ill.) had 10 assists. Junior Jessica Nguyen (Kaneland HS, Elburn, Ill.) led Augustana with eight digs and freshman Abby Phalen (Mendota HS, Mendota, Ill.) chipped in with a half-dozen.
 
For WashU, Tricia Brown, Kirby Knapp and Baxter had match highs of 13 kills, 24 assists and 16 digs, respectively, and Rachel Chang delivered a match-best four aces.