ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings women's volleyball team dropped their home opener to the No. 13 UW-Platteville Pioneers on Wednesday in three sets. 

In a close battle first set, Augie hung around and rallied with the nationally ranked team, getting to a two-point difference after a kill by Lanah Queckboerner to make a 12-10 score. Back-to-back attack errors by the Pioneers allowed the Vikings to stretch the gap to three before a service ace moved them up to 15-11. UW-Platteville converted a three-point run to move the Vikings' lead back to one. After a long rally, Alita Folkening downed a shot to advance the upper hand to two in Augie's favor. The Vikings held the one-point upper hand once more before the Pioneer found three consecutive points to snatch the advantage. A service error by UW-Platteville drew the score even at 19 apiece before a block by Carmela Cabone and Grace Gustafson regained the lead for Augie. Both teams drew even twice before the Pioneers collected the final three points to take the first set 25-22. 

UW-Platteville ran away with the lead early in the second set, with Augie getting as close as seven after a kill by Lucy Pufundt. The Pioneers maintained the upper hand to take the set 25-13 and lead 2-0 overall. 

In the third set, Augie grabbed the early advantage after an attack error by UW-Platteville and a service ace by Alexis Richards. The Pioneers snatched the lead with the Vikings getting as close as two after a three-point run. UW-Platteville was able to pull away with the advantage and secure the third set 25-14.

Queckboerner led the team with five kills, while Leah Rizzo collected eight assists, and Richards had seven digs. 

With the loss, Augie moves to 2-2 on the season and will be back in action Friday for a battle at Coe.