ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings women's volleyball team fell in a close battle at home Wednesday night, defeated by the Illinois Wesleyan Titans in five sets.

Augie took control of the match early with a 25-22 opening-set victory. After the Titans notched the first three points of the game, the Vikings responded with an 8-2 run to secure a three-point advantage of their own. The visitors remained within striking distance, evening the score at 12 and 13 before regaining a lead at 16-14. Illinois Wesleyan's advantage stretched out to as many as four  at 20-16, but six straight scores from Augie flipped momentum back in its favor. Kills by Alexis Richards and Emily Schipper accounted for the final two points as the Vikings took a 1-0 lead heading into the second. The Titans responded with back-to-back 25-12 victories to claim a 2-1 match lead.

The Vikings did not go away, jumping out to a quick 5-0 lead in the fourth on their way to a 25-16 triumph to force a final game. Augie never trailed in the set and saw its lead grow to as many as eight on three different occasions before the end margin of nine. Five different Vikings recorded service aces during the victory, including the final point of the frame off the serve by Ashley Awbrey.

In the fifth, Augustana fought back from a 4-1 early deficit to even the score at 5-5, but a 3-0 scoring spurt by the Titans put the visitors out in front for good. The Vikings got within one following a kill by Alexis Richards and an attack error by Illinois Wesleyan, but seven of the final nine points went in favor of the Titans to close out the match with a score of 15-9.

Richards led the team with 14 kills, followed by 13 from Schipper. Kylie Collachia was the team leader in both assists and digs, finishing with 29 and 15.

With the loss, Augie drops to 8-16 overall and 1-4 in the CCIW. The team will be back in action Friday vs. North Central