ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings men's volleyball team fell to the No. 14 North Central Cardinals on Wednesday in four sets with set scores of 20-25, 23-25, 25-18, and 24-26.
In the first set, both teams rallied points before North Central collected the two-point advantage. Augie got within one after a kill by Zach Moreano, but the Cardinals pulled away once more. A late 6-2 run allowed the Vikings to even the game at 15 apiece, but North Central collected the following point. The Cardinals maintained the lead to secure the first set.
The Vikings secured the first three points of the second set to obtain the early advantage. A kill by Tom Lamb moved the difference to five with a 13-8 score. The team found this gap two additional times after a kill by Cole Clarke and an attack error by the Cardinals. Augie held the upper hand until a late four-point run by North Central clinched the one-point lead. The Vikings battled back to get within one, but the Cardinals took the set to lead the match 2-0.
In the third set, Augie grabbed a 5-2 run to secure the lead. A kill by Moreano moved the difference to four and the Vikings found this gap twice more after a successful attack by Lamb and blocks by Ryan Huntington and Ben Schultz. Augustana collected five consecutive points to create its largest lead of eight after a solo block by Clarke to make a 23-15 game. Moreano closed the set with a kill from Colin Schaefer to take the set by seven points and force a fourth set.
In a back-and-forth fourth set, the Vikings found a 6-4 advantage after back-to-back errors by the Cardinals. Later on, North Central clinched four consecutive points to overtake the lead and remained out in front until three straight scores by Augie gave them a 23-22 advantage late in the set. North Central pulled even on the following rally, but a kill by Schultz gave the Vikings set point for the time being. The Cardinals answered with the final three points to steal the set and claim the match win.
As a team, the Vikings hit .247 percent. Moreano led the team with 14 kills, while Schaefer had 51 assists and Max Sellers notched 14 digs. Schultz and Lamb blocked four attempts apiece.
With the loss, Augie moves to 12-12 on the season and 2-7 in conference play. The Vikings will be back in action on Saturday, April 5 for their final match of the regular season against No. 6 Carthage.
