LISLE, Ill.—Augustana recorded its second win over a ranked team on the young season Sunday, defeating fifth-rated Benedictine in five sets at the Dan and Ada Rice Center. Coach Mike Ducey's squad improved to 4-3 on the year, while the Eagles dropped to 3-3.
 
With the fifth set tied 4-4, a Justin Murphy (Glenbard East HS, Lombard, Ill.) kill sparked a pivotal 5-0 Viking run. When Dillan Baum (Warrensburg-Latham HS, Decatur, Ill.) and Jarod Hesse (Grayslake North HS, Lake Villa, Ill.) teamed up on a block, Augustana had a 9-4 lead. After an Eagle timeout, the hosts took four of five points to get to within 10-8. Ducey called timeout and his charges responded by claiming five of the last six points. A pair of Jason Szara (Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort, Ill.) kills closed out a 15-9 victory.
 
Murphy had two kills as the Vikings captured the first seven points of the match. Benedictine got as close as 21-18 after a Elijah Medlock kill, but John Cunningham (Hononegah HS, Roscoe, Ill.) answered with one for the visitors and his service ace finished off a 25-19 Augustana win.
 
The Vikings led 4-2 early in game two, but the Eagles put together a 5-0 run and two of 4-0 on their way to a 25-16 win. John Davis and Jacob Strande teamed up on a block for set point.
 
Augustana took control of game three with four straight points that erased a 20-19 deficit and resulted in a 23-20 lead. Benedictine got within a point, but Ryan Hirschel's (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.) kill provided set point in a 25-23 Viking win.
 
The Eagles forced a fifth set by taking the fourth 25-17. They jumped in front 16-5 before Augustana got a pair of Hesse kills in a 7-2 run that cut the deficit to 18-12. The best the Vikings could do though, was trade the next nine points as the hosts maintained a comfortable lead. Set point came via an Augustana service error.
 
Murphy had a dozen kills to lead four Vikings in double figures. Baum, Hirschel and Szara delivered 10 each and Hesse added nine. Sanchit Khaitan (Glenbard North HS, Bloomingdale, Ill.) and Hirschel split setting duties with 26 and 24 assists, respectively. Baum had three aces. Defensively, Matthew Schiferl (Wheeling HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) had a match-best nine digs and Baum seven. Cunningham was in on six blocks (three solo) and Hesse four.
 
Nick Malak had a match-high 13 kills for Benedictine.
 
Augustana travels to Thousand Oaks, California for its next three matches, opening on Friday, January 31 versus Westcliff at 7:00 p.m. PST.