ROCK ISLAND, Ill.— Augustana earned its first CCIW win in program history Saturday, defeating Millikin in straight sets at Carver Center. Coach Mike Ducey's Vikings improved to 8-6 on the season and 1-1 in the conference, while the Big Blue fell to 1-12 overall and 0-2 in the league.
 
Millikin took a 5-2 lead in set one, but kills by Jason Szara (Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort, Ill.) and Ryan Hirschel (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.) helped turn the tide, as Augustana claimed 10 of the next 14 points to go ahead 12-9. Szara and freshman Jarod Hesse (Grayslake North HS, Lake Villa, Ill.) teamed up on a block that extended the advantage to 19-13 and set point in a 25-19 Viking win came when Hirschel set Justin Murphy (Glenbard East HS, Lombard, Ill.) for a kill.
 
The teams traded runs early in game two. Augustana took five straight points to go up 7-3 and the Big Blue answered with a 4-0 spurt later that tied it at nine-all. A Luis Zavala (Lincoln-Way East HS, Frankfort, Ill.) broke the final deadlock (11-all) and sparked an 8-3 spree as the Vikings took control. A combined block from Szara and John Cunningham stretched the lead to 19-14 and set point in a 25-20 Augustana win came on another kill by Zavala.
 
Gary Dodovich (St. Benedict HS, Chicago, Ill.) started game three with a kill and the hosts would lead wire-to-wire in a 25-18 victory. Millikin got as close as 6-5, but the Vikings took four of the next five points and the Big Blue wouldn't get within a point the rest of the way. However, they trailed just 14-12 before Szara had two kills in a 4-0 burst that gave Augustana an 18-12 edge. Match point eventually came via another Szara kill.
 
Szara finished with a match-high nine kills and just two errors on 16 swings good for a .438 attack percentage. Sanchit Khaitan (Glenbard North HS, Bloomingdale, Ill.) led the way with 25 assists, Hirschel had three service aces and Matthew Schiferl (Wheeling HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) recorded 16 digs. All were match bests. Zavala and Szara were each in on a pair of blocks.
 
Jose Gallardo led Millikin with seven kills.
 
Ducey's bunch is back at Carver on Wednesday, February 26, hosting North Park at 7:00 p.m. in another CCIW tilt.