ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Augustana Vikings women's volleyball team cruised to a win in its first match of the season, defeating the Concordia Falcons by a score of 3-0. 

The Vikings got off to a fast start, scoring the seven points of the contest after a pair of kills from Emily Schipper and two service aces by Alexis Richards. Augie's lead quickly hit double figures at 12-2 before moving out to its largest lead of the frame moments later at 16-4. Concordia saw a six-point run to pull within six at 22-16, but consecutive kills from Carli Udovich closed out the opening game with a score of 25-18.

A back-and-forth beginning to set two followed, with Augie bouncing back from an early deficit with four straight scores to jump out in front at 11-8. The Falcons remained within striking distance, evening the score twice at 12 and again at 13, but the Vikings grabbed five of the next six rallies to pull away. Augie took set two 25-17 to make it a 2-0 lead in the match. 

Augustana enjoyed two scoring runs of four or more points to begin the third set, but the Falcons hung around and erased a five-point deficit late in the frame to take the lead. After Concordia went out in front at 19-18, the two teams traded points and found themselves in a 23-23 deadlock. Laina Nelson moved the Vikings ahead with a kill and Alyssa Millan sealed the match with an ace to help complete the sweep.

Schipper led the Vikings in kills in the win with nine on 25 attempts to go with zero errors, while Richards also added nine with a .304 hitting percentage. Defensively, the team boasted 10 blocks as Mallory Coley, Schipper, and Grace Gustafson all notched three apiece. Leah Rizzo led with 19 assists and Ashley Awbrey had 11 digs.

Augustana will be back in action tomorrow against Macalester and St. Catherine.