NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Augustana bounced back from a first-set loss at North Central Wednesday to win three straight and claim its 2019 CCIW opener. The Vikings improved to 5-7 overall and 1-0 in the conference, while the host Cardinals fell to 4-9 on the year and 0-2 in the league.
 
The teams traded 25-19 wins in the first two games. Augustana captured the key third set by a score of 28-26 and then rolled to a 25-10 victory in set four.
 
Junior Jessica Nguyen (Kaneland HS, Elburn, Ill.) had a pair of service aces as the Vikings raced to a 6-1 lead in the opening set. North Central responded by taking 10 of the next 11 points and never looked back. A Jordan Dryfhout (Chicago Christian HS, Orland Park, Ill.) kill pulled Augustana to within 20-18, but the Cardinals captured five of the last six points, with a Viking attack error giving them set point.
 
The visitors jumped on top again in game two. A Laura Heuermann (Washington HS, Washington, Ill.) kill put the Vikings up 9-3 and senior Grace Bialobok (Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Homewood, Ill.) had three kills in a 6-0 run that gave them a 19-9 advantage. North Central rallied to within 23-19, but after a Kelly Bethke timeout, Augustana finished off the set with kills by freshman Sarah Hornacek (Lyons HS, La Grange, Ill.) and Bialobok.
 
Game three was tight the entire way. Only once before the score reached 20 did the margin grow to three points, when the Cardinals led 13-10. The Vikings answered with four consecutive points and eventually led 23-19 after an Olivia Doak (Crystal Lake Central HS, Crystal Lake, Ill.) kill. However, the hosts took the next five points and Augustana was forced to fight off a pair of set points. North Central fought one off as well, before kills by Bialobok and junior Savana Sparks (Maroa-Forsyth HS, Maroa, Ill.) closed out a 28-26 Viking win.
 
After falling behind 5-2 in game four, Bethke's bunch roared back to take 23 of the final 28 points. Senior Brooke Harmon (Lindbergh HS, St. Louis, Mo.) had three aces—including one for match point—in a 6-0 Augustana closing run.
 
Bialobok had a match-best 19 kills and Heuermann added 10. Doak's 38 assists were also a match high. Nguyen delivered five aces and Harmon four. Nguyen led all players with 17 digs, with Doak and seniors Madi Glatz (Morton HS. Morton, Ill.) and Brooke Keegan (Hall HS, Ladd, Ill.) all chipping in 10 apiece. Harmon was in on a team-high four blocks.
 
Emmie Naal led North Central with 10 kills.
 
The Vikings will play a non-conference match versus Cornell at 5:00 p.m. Friday, September 20 in Mount Vernon, Iowa.