Box Score BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Augustana dropped a road matchup on Wednesday night, falling 3–0 to #4 Illinois Wesleyan by scores of 25–13, 25–10 and 25–15.

In the set one, Augustana kept pace early, tying the set 4–4 on kills from Lanah Queckboerner, Mallory Coley, and Carmela Carbone. Alexis Richards hammered one home to tie at 5-5 but Illinois Wesleyan quickly seized control with a 6–0 run. Grace Gustafson provided a spark with consecutive kills out of a timeout, but the Titans continued to extend the lead. Gustafson and Coley continued to attack the net as well as Lucy Pufundt, whose first kill was followed up by a Kacie Swanson ace to make the score 11-17 in favor of IWU. Coley would add another late, but the Vikings ultimately dropped the set 25-13.

In set two, Illinois Wesleyan jumped out to a 3–0 lead before Augustana got on the board with a kill from freshman Pufundt to make it 3–1. The Vikings stayed within reach early, trailing 5–3 while a kill by Gustafson brought the score to 9–5. However, the Titans used a 6–2 run to pull ahead 15–7. A service ace from Kacie Swanson would make it 15-9 before the Vikings called a timeout. Out of the break, Illinois Wesleyan responded with another surge as the Titans closed the set on a 10–1 run to take it 25–10 and go up 2–0 in the match.

In set three, Carbone put down the opening kill from Abby Kirchner to give the Vikings an early 1–0 lead. The teams stayed close through the opening points, with kills from Alita Folkening and Richards helping keep the score tied at 4–4 and 5–5, respectively. Gustafson would follow up Richards with a kill of her own to make it 6-5 in favor of the Vikings. Augustana would get kills from Carbone and Grace Lichthardt to lead pace with the Titans at 9-8. Illinois Wesleyan then used a 6–2 run to take a 14–11 advantage. Richards would find the hardwood twice more bringing the score to 13-18. Elle Jones added a late kill off a set from Kirchner to bring the score to 23–15, before Illinois Wesleyan sealed the set 25–15.

Gustafson led the Vikings' offense with five kills, while Carbone and Coley each added three. Carbone finished with an efficient .429 hitting percentage. Pufundt also chipped in three kills, and Richards recorded four. Kirchner and Leah Rizzo ran the offense with nine and eight assists, respectively. Katelyn Turley led the Vikings with six digs while Kirchner, Richards and Rizzo each totaled five digs. Kacie Swanson and Lichthardt provided a boost from the service line, combining for three aces.

With the loss, Augustana moves to 12-14 and 3-5 in CCIW play and will return to action at home versus non-conference Loras and Grinnell on Nov. 8 for Senior Day.