ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Augustana got the 2019 Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League season off to a successful start on Saturday, defeating Greenville in four sets at Carver Center. The Vikings improved to 6-9 on the year and 1-0 in the conference, while the Panthers fell to 7-9 and 0-1, respectively.

 

Jason Szara (Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort, Ill.) had five kills to lead Augustana to a 25-20 game-one win. Freshman Luis Zavala (Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort, Ill.) had back-to-back service aces as the Vikings jumped on top 4-1. Greenville achieved ties at six and seven-all, but Zavala had consecutive blocks—the second shared with Ryan Hirschel (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.)—and the hosts would lead the rest of the way. Seven Augustana service errors kept the Panthers within striking distance, but the Vikings claimed three of the last four points, with a Szara kill providing set point.
 
Game two was tight early, but a 9-0 Greenville run broke a 12-all tie and spelled the difference. A Tanner Smith kill started the spurt and he and Johnny Milabu teamed up on a pair of blocks before Nick Corrigan finished it with consecutive aces. The Panthers eventually won 25-17, with set point coming on a Kyle Ward kill.
 
Augustana held off a furious Greenville rally to take game three 25-23. Trailing 11-10, the Vikings went on a 10-3 run—fueled by three Szara kills and two by Justin Murphy (Glenbard South HS, Lombard, Ill.)—to take a seemingly comfortable 20-14 lead. Isaiah Canales' kill sparked a 9-4 spree that got the visitors to within a point at 24-23, but Hirschel set Dillan Baum (Warrensburg-Latham HS, Decatur, Ill.) for a kill and set point.
 
It was Augustana that rallied in game four. A pair of Milabu kills keyed a 5-0 run that gave the Panthers a 12-5 advantage. A Zavala kill and two by Hirschel kick-started the Vikings' comeback. They pulled even at 12, 13 and 14-all before finally taking a 16-14 lead on two straight Gary Dodovich (St. Benedict HS, Chicago, Ill.) aces. By the time Zavala finished off a Sanchit Khaitan (Glenbard North HS, Bloomingdale, Ill.) set for a kill, the hosts had completed an 18-5 run and led 23-17. Khaitan set Hirschel for a match-point kill, as Augustana won 25-19.
 
Szara finished with 13 kills and Baum a dozen to lead the Vikings. Hirschel and Khaitan came through with 25 and 21 assists, respectively. Milabu and George Black each had 10 kills for Greenville.
 
Defensively, Matthew Schiferl (Wheeling HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) led in digs with 13 and Zavala (six) and Hirschel (five) in blocks.
 
On Sunday, Augustana welcomes Fontbonne to Carver Center for another MCVL matchup. The Griffins are off to a 12-0 start and have dropped just one set all season. Start time is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.