KENOSHA, Wis. – Autumn McGee had nine kills Thursday to lead fifth-ranked Carthage to a straight-set victory over Augustana at Tarble Arena. The Vikings fell to 1-6 on the season and 1-5 in the CCIW, while the Firebirds improved to 5-1 overall and in the conference.
 
Ja'Nya Davis (Narbonne HS, Los Angeles, Calif.) had consecutive service aces and combined on a block with Olivia Doak (Crystal Lake Central HS, Crystal Lake, Ill.) in a 5-0 Augustana run that gave Coach Kelly Bethke's bunch a 9-6 lead in set one. Haley Horner had two kills as Carthage claimed five straight points for an 11-9 advantage before the Vikings answered with another five in a row to go up 14-11. There were six more ties before the Firebirds claimed the final four points to win 25-22. Nicole Acton finished off the set with consecutive aces.
 
Horner, Acton and Andrea Kozak each had a pair of kills as Carthage bolted to a 16-4 lead in game two. Doak had a pair of aces in a 6-0 run that pulled Augustana to within 16-10, but that's as close as the Vikings would get. The Firebirds eventually won 25-15, getting set point via an Augustana attack error.
 
Freshman Brook Fieldman (Plainfield East HS, Plainfield, Ill.) opened game three with two kills before Carthage claimed three straight points to take the lead. A kill by Laura Heuermann (Washington HS, Washington, Ill.) finished off a 5-1 Viking run that gave them their last lead at 11-10. The Firebirds responded by winning three points in a row, taking the lead for good on an Acton kill. Fieldman and Davis each had a kill as the guests fought off three match points before a kill by McGee closed out a 25-22 Carthage win.
 
Fieldman led Augustana with eight kills. Doak had 20 assists and Jessica Nguyen (Kaneland HS, Elburn, Ill.) contributed 23 digs.
 
Horner added eight kills to McGee's match-high nine for the Firebirds.
 
The Vikings are in action next on Wednesday, April 7, hosting Wheaton at Carver Center in a 7:00 p.m. match.