ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings women's volleyball team concluded the 2022 Viking Classic on Saturday with two more wins to make it a 4-0 weekend, defeating the Marian Sabres 3-1 and Luther Norse by a score of 3-0.
Match One (W 3-1 vs. Marian)
The Vikings made quick work of the Sabres in the opening set, breaking a 4-4 tie with 21 of the next 26 points scored to take it by a final of 25-9. Augie pulled away from the evened score to go up 9-6 and from there, used 12 straight points to pull ahead for good.
In set two, Augie endured a 6-0 run early on from Marian and trailed by as many as four at one point, but bounced back to regain the lead at 16-15. Following a point from the Sabres, the Vikings countered with a 5-1 scoring outburst to pull away from the closely-fought frame and hold on for the five-point win to put them up 2-0 in the match.
After Marian took the third set to cut the deficit to 2-1, Augustana doubled up Marian in set four with an early advantage of 10-5. Marian got within three, but like each of the first two set wins for the Vikings, the team benefited from a timely scoring run to cushion their lead. Augustana grew their margin to as many as 13 and coasted to the 25-13 win to clinch the match win by a final of 3-1.
Emily Schipper posted a match-high 15 kills on 29 attempts with a hitting percentage of .448, committing just two errors.
Grace Vranicar led the way with 19 digs, while two others had double figures in that category as well.
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Match Two (W 3-0 vs. Luther)
In their final match of the weekend, the Vikings coasted to a nine-point set win in the opening frame over the Luther Norse, but were met a tough battle in the final two. After seeing a first-set lead grow to as many as 11, the Vikings jumped out to a seven-point advantage at 18-11, on their way to what appeared to me another cushioned victory. The Norse charged back, cutting the deficit to two points on five separate occasions, with the latest coming at 24-22. The visitors were unable to cut it any closer and a service error gave Augie the final points as they took a 2-0 lead in the match following a 25-22 win.
In the third set, Luther once again stormed back from an early hole, tying the match at 18 after trailing 13-6. Augustana did not allow them to take the lead, breaking away from the 18-18 deadlock with four straight scores to pull away. After Luther notched back-to-back points, the Vikings closed out the match with three in a row to close out the match 3-0 and the weekend with four wins in as many tries.
Carolina Hurst led the way with 14 kills as one of three members to tally double figures in that category.
Jaden Julius with 11 and Schipper with 10 rounded out a balanced attack for Augie. Three players also secured double-digit digs, led by 15 apiece from Vranicar and
Amelie Baehr-Ross.
Rachel Galluzzo also added 13.
Baehr-Ross was named to the 2022 Viking Classic All-Tournament Team.
With the wins, Augustana improves to 10-3 on the season. They are off to their best start since the 2014 season, when they began the year 11-2 through their first 13 matches. The team will hop back into CCIW action on Tuesday, September 20 when they host the North Central Cardinals. Start time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. from inside the Carver Center.
