ROCK ISLAND, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings volleyball team earned a four-set victory over the Luther Norse on Friday.

In the opening set, both teams rallied to tie seven times before Augie grabbed two points off a kill by Grace Gustafson and a service ace by Carmela Carbone to make a 9-7 score. Luther hung around to even the score again at 10 apiece, and the two teams drew even two additional times before a kill by Carbone put the Vikings up 14-12. Three consecutive points put the Norse ahead by one before Augie found a 6-1 rally to stretch the gap to 23-19. A successful attack by Carbone closed out the first set 25-22. 

The Vikings secured the early advantage in the second set after an 8-2 run with a block by Carbone and Mallory Coley creating the six-point gap. The team found this difference once more after a service ace by Lanah Queckboerner at 13-7. An attack error by the visitors moved the game to 21-13, and Augie held the upper hand with a solo block by Carli Udovich, capped off the set with a 25-18 score. 

In a neck-and-neck third set, both teams tied six times before Luther found the four-point lead at 9-6. A successful attack by Alita Folkening evened the score once more at 10 apiece, and she followed with a solo block to snatch the lead. Late in the set, the Norse collected four points to overtake the lead at 20-18, and maintained the lead to force a fourth set. 

Augie collected the advantage in the fourth set with an attack error, creating a 3-1 game. Luther evened the score at six apiece and both teams tied once more until a service error by the visitors put the Vikings ahead. Three consecutive service aces by Lucy Pufundt stretched the gap to five with a 17-12 score. The Norse inched forward, but three points moved Augie forward 20-16 after a kill by Folkening. The Vikings closed out the set with the final three points, with a kill by Coley closing the set with a score of 25-19. 

Alexis Richards led the team with nine kills, while Leah Rizzo notched 26 assists and Katelyn Turley had 13 digs and three service aces. 

With the win, Augie moves to 7-7 on the season and will be back in action tomorrow for two games against Aurora and Monmouth.