WAUKESHA, Wis. – Augustana picked up its first win of the 2020 season Thursday, downing Carroll in four sets at Van Male Field House. The Vikings improved to 1-3 on the season and in the CCIW, while the host Pioneers fell to 0-4 overall and in the conference.
 
Freshman Grace Vranicar (Kaneland HS, Sugar Grove, Ill.) opened the match with consecutive service aces and also chipped in a kill as Augustana jumped in front 6-1 in game one. The lead reached 16-6 before Carroll went on a 13-5 run to get as close as 21-19. A Ja'Nya Davis (Narbonne HS, Los Angeles, Calif.) kill turned the tide back in favor of the Vikings and another by Laura Heuermann (Washington HS, Washington, Ill.) provided set point in a 25-20 Augustana win.
 
The Pioneers bounced back to take the second game by a score of 25-22. They led 13-8 after a Michelle Maraist kill, but the Vikings answered by taking five straight points to pull even. Heuermann had three straight kills later to put the guests up 19-17, but Ashley Konecki countered with three in a 6-1 run that gave Carroll a 24-21 edge. Sam Penzkowski answered a Davis kill with one of her own to close out the set.
 
Vranicar started the third with another ace and classmate Jenny Dunder (Skyline HS, Longmont, Colo.) had two kills as Coach Kelly Bethke's bunch raced to a 6-1 lead. The Pioneers would get no closer than four points the rest of the way and Heuermann had a pair of kills as Augustana took five of the last six points to win 25-15.
 
The Vikings took an 11-4 lead in game four before Carroll staged a spirited rally. After drawing to within 18-15 on a Konecki kill, the Pioneers surrendered three straight points to fall behind by six. They responded with a 7-3 run and fended off three match points before a service error gave Augustana a 25-22 win.
 
Heuermann finished with a match-best 15 kills. Freshman Brook Fieldman (Plainfield East HS, Plainfield, Ill.) added a dozen and Davis and Lexi Miller (Oswego HS, North Liberty, Iowa) nine each. Olivia Doak (Crystal Lake Central HS, Crystal Lake, Ill.) had 44 assists and 10 digs. Jessica Nguyen (Kaneland HS, Elburn, Ill.) had a match-high 28 digs, while freshman Evey Gervase (Marian Catholic HS, Griffith, Ind.) chipped in with 12.
 
Next up for Bethke's crew is a non-conference match versus Millikin on Sunday, March 21 at Carver Center.