NAPERVILLE, Ill.  -- For the first time since 2021 and just the second time ever, the Augustana Vikings men's volleyball team defeated the No. 11 North Central Cardinals on Wednesday, winning in straight sets by scores of 25-19, 25-22, 25-18.

The Vikings took the first point of the match, but North Central secured three consecutive points to take the early lead. A block from Aidan Bolen and Ben Schultz tied the game at three and both teams evened the score once more before Augie obtained an 8-0 run to create a 12-4 score. After North Central cut it to four, Augie found an eight-point gap once more after a 4-0 run ended with a block by Ty Heater and Colin Schaefer and a kill by Bolen. An attack error from the Cardinals closed out the first set with a final score of 25-19.

In a back-and-forth second set, both teams found themselves in a draw seven times before back-to-back points from Augie gave them the first lead of more than one in the frame. The Vikings earned a lead of four points on three occasions before North Central charged back to tie the game at 22-22.  Augie snatched the final three points and Sean Carlson wrapped up the third set with a solo block to take the set 25-22 and 2-0 overall in the contest. 

In another close set, both teams evened the score eight times before the Vikings tallied two points to take the 9-7 advantage. Augie notched a lead of as many as seven after a kill by Carlson at 22-15 and Zach Moreano closed out the final set with a kill to conclude the third set with a score of 25-18.

As a team, the Vikings hit .329 in the win, their highest mark since February 29, and held the Cardinals to a percentage of just .062, their lowest of the year. Bolen led the Vikings in the win with 11 kills, while Schaefer had 28 assists. Max Sellers had eight digs and Carlson and Heater each had three solo blocks.

With the win, Augie improves to 16-4 on the season and 3-3 in conference play. The Vikings will stay on the road to face Illinois Wesleyan on Sunday.