FOND DU LAC, Wis. -- The Augustana Vikings men's volleyball team picked up two wins at Marian on Saturday. Augie conquered Marian 3-1 before a sweep against Mount St. Joseph.
In the Vikings' first match against Marian, Augie dropped the first set 25-22. Both teams tied three times before Augie found the slight advantage after kills by Sean Carlson and Ben Schultz to make a 5-3 score. The Vikings stretched the lead to as many as four with a 10-6 game before the Sabres followed with five consecutive points to snatch an 11-10 lead. Both teams drew even four additional times before a 4-1 run put Marian on top 18-15. Augie got within one after a block by Schultz and Zach Moreano, but the Sabres collected the final three points to take the first set.
In the second set, Augie secured the early lead after a 7-1 run. The Vikings created an eight-point gap after an attack from Schultz to make it a 16-8 game. A kill by Carlson obtained the team's largest lead of nine and the Vikings found themselves nine points ahead two more times going forward. Augustana secured the final three points with a kill from Garrett McNelis to win the set 25-16 and even the match at one apiece.
Augie once again found the early advantage in the third after an 8-4 point run. Augie's lead grew out to six following a pair of scoring runs, but an 8-3 outburst by Marian got them within one at 20-19. A kill by Ryan Huntington brought the gap back to two and the Vikings found the final four points after an attack error by the Sabres, a kill by Huntington, and back-to-back service aces to go up 2-1 in the match.
In the fourth set, a pair of attack errors by Marian allowed Augie to take the early lead. Marian later used a four-point run to even the score at 14 apiece, but Augie countered with a five-sport scoring spurt to pull ahead for good. The Vikings held the advantage through the remainder of the set and secured the final four points after back-to-back errors by the Sabres and two consecutive service aces by Colin Schaefer to take the fourth set 25-17.
As a team, Augie hit .299 percent, while holding Marian to .074 percent. Carlson led the team with 16 kills, while Schaefer notched 35 assists, and Max Sellers had 16 digs. Schaefer notched five service aces and Tom Lamb blocked five attempts.
In the Vikings' second match, Augie grabbed the early lead after a 6-3 run. The Lions got within one on two different occasions but Augustana followed with four points to lead 11-6. After Mount St. Joseph inched closer, the Vikings jumped back out in front at a 19-14 score. The team closed out the first with five consecutive points to secure the six-point win.
In the second set, the Vikings again went out in front early after doubling up the Lions 6-3 and grew their lead out to seven at 16-9 and 17-10. The Lions did not go away quietly, securing three of the next four to pull within five at 18-13. Six straight points from the Vikings halted the threat, using a trio of aces from Carlson to run away with the game. A service error from Mount St. Joseph capped off the 25-16 victory for the Vikings.
The Vikings grabbed the early lead again in the third with a 6-2 start. A solo block by Lamb extended the gap back to four, but the Lions made a 4-2 run to get within one at 11-9. The Vikings followed with four points to bring the difference to five before an attack error by Mount St. Joseph moved the gap to six. Augie found this advantage three times before another attack error by the Lions created a seven point gap with a 22-15 score. A kill by Alexander Sulewski closed the seven point set.
As a team, Augie hit .181 percent, while holding the Lions to -.014 percent. Huntington led the team with seven kills, while Schaefer had 25 assists, and Sellers secured six digs. Carlson added four aces and Lamb blocked five attempts.
With the two wins, Augie moves to 10-3 on the season and returns to action on Thursday, February 20 to host Dominican.
