ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings women's volleyball team fell in their regular-season finale on Wednesday, falling at home to the Carroll Pioneers in five sets.
Augie jumped out to a quick five-point lead in the opening set at 6-1 but were met with small runs from the Pioneers until the road team eventually tied and took the lead. Carroll's advantage grew to as many as three on several different occasions, with the latest coming at 23-20. The visitors pushed it to four to face set point and fended off back-to-back scores from the Vikings to take the opening game by a score of 25-22.
Following a couple of traded points to begin set two, the Vikings found themselves playing catch-up as they faced three different three-point deficits until tying the game at 14 to force a Carroll timeout. A service ace by
Emily Schipper out of the break gave the Vikings the lead, pushing it up to three at 17-14 as they capped off a 6-0 run. Augie never trailed the rest of the set on their way to a 25-16 victory to even the match at one win apiece.
The Vikings doubled up the Pioneers with 10 of their first 15 points in game three, fueled by consecutive services aces from Schipper, who finished the night with three. Augie continued to grow their lead, stretching it to as many as nine before the Pioneers fought back to force a Vikings timeout at a score of 18-17. After Carroll evened it up at 18, Augustana responded with six straight points to reclaim momentum, holding on for the 25-21 victory to take a 2-1 match lead.
The Pioneers owned an early advantage to begin the fourth frame, jumping out to a 9-6 lead. The visitors kept the margin hovering around the three-point mark before pushing it to 17-12 to force Augustana's second and final timeout of the set. The Vikings chipped away at the deficit, cutting it to one at 21-20 and resulting in a Carroll timeout. The two teams traded points until back-to-back scores put Augie out in front at 23-22. The Pioneers answered with three straight scores of their own to notch the 25-23 victory and force a fifth and deciding game.
In set five, Carroll doubled up Augustana early on, leading 8-4 as the two teams traded benches. The Pioneers tallied seven of the final eight points after the switch to win the match with a 15-5 victory.
Caroline Hurst led the Vikings' attack with 15 kills, while
Amelie Baehr-Ross secured 38 assists and 12 digs.
With the defeat, Augustana drops to 16-11 overall and 4-4 in the CCIW. Despite the loss, the Vikings clinched a spot in the upcoming 2022 CCIW Tournament with Elmhurst's loss to Carthage on Wednesday. Augie will await their first-round matchup to be determined later this week.
