ROCK ISLAND -- The Augstana Vikings split the final day of the Viking Classic on Saturday. Augie fell in game one to Hamline with a score of 3-1 before sweeping MSOE in three sets.
In the first set of game one, the Vikings secured the early advantage after a 7-2 run. Augie secured five consecutive points to stretch the gap to 12-5 after a kill by Lanah Queckboerner. The Vikings pushed the difference even more after a successful attack by Grace Gustafson to make a nine-point lead. A kill by Lucy Pufundt doubled the score off a pass from Leah Rizzo to create a 20-10 game. Augie maintained the upper hand with back-to-back errors by Hamline closed the set 25-20.
Augie collected the lead after creating a 5-1 margin before later moving the gap to four after a service ace by Queckboerner to make a 13-9 score. A service ace by Alyssa Millan stretched the gap to five, but the Pipers followed with five to even the score at 18-18. Both teams drew even twice more before the visitors took the two-point lead late in the game with a 22-20 score. Hamline secured the final two to tie 1-1 overall.
In the third set, both teams rallied until the visitors secured five consecutive points to take the 17-14 lead. The Vikings hung around until the Pipers collected four more to stretch the game to 21-16. Hamline snatched the final two points of the set to take the 2-1 upper hand. The Pipers collected a 6-1 run to take the early advantage, and a solo block by Carmela Carbone closed the gap to two at 7-5. Hamline held the control to take the final set 25-18.
Queckboerner led the team with 10 kills and 14 digs, while Rizzo notched 23 assists.
Augie kicked off set one of game two with a nine-point run to secure the early lead. MSOE got on the board, but the Vikings followed with four more with a kill by Alexis Richards, making a 14-2 game. A successful attack by Gustafson doubled the score before a bad set by the Raiders moved the game to 21-10. The Vikings maintained the advantage with a service ace by Millan, closing the set with a 25-12 score.
In set two, Augustana found the upper hand after a 6-2 run before finding four more with a solo block by Alita Folkening, moving the game to 11-5. The Vikings followed with 10 consecutive points with an attack error by the Raiders, creating a 21-8 game. Augie closed the set out with the final four points with a successful kill by Gustafson, securing the set 25-9.
Both teams rallied in the third set until three points put Augie ahead 8-3 after a kill by Mallory Coley. A successful attack by Carli Udovich moved the gap back to five, and an attack error by MSOE created a 19-12 score. A late four points by the home team moved the gap to nine with a score of 23-14. An attack error by the Raiders closed the set out with a score of 25-16 for a three-set sweep for the Vikings.
Gustafson led the team with seven kills, while Rizzo collected 17 assists and Richards and Turley had 13 digs.
After the conclusion of the event, Rizzo was named to the All-Tournament team.
With the split record, Augie moves to 4-5 on the season and will be back in action on Sept. 19 for the first CCIW matchup of the season at Carthage.
