JACKSONVILLE, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings women's volleyball team collected two wins to conclude the Lady Blue Challenge on Saturday. The team defeated the Illinois College Lady Blues and Eureka Red Devils in three straight sets.
In the first set, both teams were neck-and-neck until midway, when Augie converted a five-point run with a service ace by Alyssa Millan to create a 22-16 score. The Lady Blues inched within three, but the Vikings collected the final three points to take the first set 25-19.
In another back-and-forth second set, both teams rallied five times before Augie secured five consecutive points to create a 10-5 score. The Vikings maintained the advantage and moved the gap to seven after Carmela Carbone and Lucy Pufundt blocked an attempt by Illinois College. A solo block by Mallory Coley created the largest gap of 10, and the team saw this difference again after a successful attack by Lanah Queckboener. The Lady Blue got within six, but kills by Coley and Carli Udovich closed the set 25-17 to lead 2-0 overall.
Augie created a 14-3 run in the third set to run away with the 11-point lead. Illinois College got as close as four late in the set, but the Vikings held the advantage to collect their first win of the season in straight sets.
Alexis Richards, Coley, and Grace Gustafson collected six kills apiece, while Leah Rizzo had 18 assists and Queckboerner put up 14 digs.
In game two against Eureka, the Vikings' offense came out hot with the first six points to snatch the early lead. Augie kept their momentum strong and stretched the gap to 10 after a kill by Richards to make a 15-5 score. Both teams rallied, but the Red Devils couldn't catch up with the Vikings as they secured the final six points. Four of the six points came from the service line with service aces by Richards.
In a back-and-forth second set, both teams tied three times before a kill by Carbone and two attack errors by Eureka put Augie ahead 6-3. The Red Devils fought back to deadlock the score at six apiece, but an error and service ace by Pfundt moved the Vikings ahead. Augustana ran away with the advantage after an 8-2 run to make a seven-point difference. A late kill by Grace Lichthardt moved the gap to 11, and a successful attempt by Coley earned this advantage once more. Eva Zimmerman closed out the set with a kill from Rizzo to lead the matchup 2-0.
In the third, the teams rallied until a 6-1 run by Eureka moved the game to 16-10. Augie's offense pushed to squash the gap and got within three after a kill by Pfundt, and found this differential again after an attack error by the Red Devils. The Vikings followed with three points with kills by Pfundt and back-to-back service aces by Millan to even the score at 22-22. After an Augie timeout, both teams rallied and Gustafson deadlocked the score at 24 apiece. Gustafson collected another successful attempt to snatch the late lead before Richards secured the game-winning kill to win the battle in three sets.
Gustafson led the team with nine kills, while Rizzo collected 19 assists and Katelyn Turley had 16 digs.
Following the tournament, Augustana had three individuals earn all-tournament team honors: Coley, Pufundt, and Richards.
With the two wins, Augie moves to 2-1 on the season and will host No. 13 UW-Platteville on Wednesday for their home opener.
