SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – Coach Mike Ducey's Augustana volleyball program opened the 2020 season Friday at Wittenberg University's Jim Coleman Invitational. The Vikings fell in four sets to 15th-ranked Juniata in their season opener, but rebounded with a four-set victory over number seven Southern Virginia. They'll carry a 1-1 season mark into Saturday, January 18 matches versus Lancaster Bible (10:00 a.m. EST) and the host Tigers (2:00 p.m. EST).
 
JUNIATA 3, AUGUSTANA 1 (23-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-13)
 
Augustana couldn't ride a fast start to a win in their 2020 season opener.
 
Sophomore Luis Zavala (Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort, Ill.) had a kill and a service ace as the Vikings jumped on top 4-0 in set one. After they stretched the margin to five (9-4), Juniata whittled it to one at 12-11. Junior Justin Murphy (Glenbard East HS, Lombard, Ill.) had two kills as Augustana answered with nine of the next 12 points to go up 21-14. The Eagles again rallied to get within 24-23, but committed an attack error to give the Vikings a 25-23 win.
 
Juniata claimed five straight points to go from down 12-10 to up 15-12 in the second set and wouldn't surrender the lead. Augustana pulled to within a point twice, but Robert Bowling had a pair of kills in a 4-0 Eagle run that made it 24-19. A David Hibner kill finished off a 25-20 Juniata win.
 
The Eagles used a 4-0 run to take an 8-4 game-three lead and gradually expanded it. Another four straight points made it 23-14 and set point in a 25-17 Juniata win eventually came on a Kevin Duffy kill.
 
The Eagles took control in set four with a 6-0 run that gave them an 11-4 advantage. The Vikings would get no closer than five points the rest of the way. A Sean Cavanagh kill gave Juniata a 25-13 win and match point.
 
Zavala led Augustana with 10 kills. Sophomore Sanchit Khaitan (Glenbard North HS, Bloomingdale, Ill.) had a team-best 20 assists and junior Ryan Hirschel (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.) added 17. Hirschel and classmate Matthew Schiferl (Wheeling HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) each had 10 digs.
 
Cavanagh and Bowling each had a match-high 13 kills for the Eagles.
 
AUGUSTANA 3, SVU 1 (25-17, 21-25, 25-19, 29-27)
 
The Vikings bounced back in resounding fashion in the nightcap, taking down seventh-ranked Southern Virginia in four sets.
 
A kill by freshman Jarod Hesse (Grayslake North HS, Lake Villa, Ill.) tied game one at 6-6 and Augustana took the next three points as well. The Vikings would lead the rest of the way, with a Hesse block closing out a 25-17 win.
 
After falling behind 8-3 in set two, Augustana rallied to tie it at 17-all on a Hesse ace. After ties at 18 and 19-all, the Knights took three straight points and went on to win 25-21. Set point came via a Viking attack error.
 
Augustana led early in game three before SVU came back to forge a 16-all tie. However, Hirschel had two kills in a 6-0 Viking run and a Knight attack error eventually gave Ducey's bunch set point in a 25-19 win.
 
The Knights fought off two match points before taking a 25-24 lead in set four. Hirschel had a kill and an ace to regain the lead for Augustana. SVU's Mark Stapley traded kills with junior Jason Szara (Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort, Ill.) and the Knights tied it at 27-all before the Vikings claimed the final two points for a 29-27 victory.
 
Zavala had a match-best 14 kills on 21 swings. Hirschel added 11 kills and his 16 assists were second only to Khaitan's 25. Hesse had eight kills, two aces and two blocks. Schiferl had 10 digs.
 
Stapley and Paul Candland each had 10 kills for SVU.