By: Peter Borkowski
Box Score
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - Playing at home for the second time this week, Augustana College women's volleyball (5-10, 1-3) hosted No. 2 Illinois Wesleyan University (16-1, 5-0) Friday night for a CCIW matchup. While Augie was able to string a few solid runs together, they could not overcome the number-two ranked Titans as the Vikings fell 3-0.
Inside the Box Score
How it Happened
First Set
IWU jumped out to a 6-0 lead in set one, forcing an early Augie timeout. Out of the break, the Vikings cut the deficit in half with a trio of points, but another three Titan points gave them a six-point lead again. After each adding a point, Augustana used another 3-0 run to get back within three points, 10-7.
The points continued to come in three for the visitors, as they quickly built a 13-7 advantage. Neither team could then gain any ground over the other as they split the following eight volleys, setting the score at 17-11. They then traded two-point sprees until Illinois Wesleyan was just two points away from claiming set victory.
Down 23-16, Augie stayed in the set thanks to a three-point run, but a final pair of kills from IWU won them set one, 25-19.
Second Set
Set two started a little tighter as the teams worked to a 2-2 tie. From there however, six straight scores from IWU built them a commanding 8-2 lead. A Carmela Carbone kill ended the Illinois Wesleyan run, but the Titans responded with three points to set the score at 11-3 and force an Augie timeout.
IWU's run continued past the timeout as another two points enlarged their lead to 13-3. A service error ended that spree, but another three Illinois Wesleyan scores made it 16-4 and led to another Augustana timeout.
Each squad scored a point following the timeout before Augustana got the big run they desperately needed. The Vikings scored six straight to close the gap to 17-11. A pair of IWU points ended that Augustana run as the teams then swapped scores until it was 23-15 in favor of IWU. Needed just two points to claim set two, IWU found them on a back-to-back service aces to win set two, 25-15.
Third Set
With IWU up 3-2 early in set three, three Titan attack errors and a Lichthardt kill gave Augie a 6-3 lead. That lead did not last long as IWU went on a 3-0 run to tie the set, but Augustana responded nicely with consecutive points to take an 8-6 lead. Once again, an Illinois Wesleyan run swiftly tied the game before another pair of Augie points put the Vikings back in front by a pair, 10-8.
This pattern continued into the middle stages of set two, with ties also being had at 10-10, 12-12, 14-14, and 15-15. An attack error finally let IWU back in front, but the Vikings then scored to even things at 16-16. This time however, it was the Titans who jumped ahead by multiple points, scoring three-in-a-row to take a 19-16 lead and cause an Augustana timeout.
Augie cut their deficit down to two with a Sophia Sommesi kill out of the break, but a quick five IWU points suddenly brought set point. Down 24-17, an Illinois Wesleyan service error prolonged the match, but a final kill by the visitors clinched them set three, 25-18, as they completed the sweep of the Vikings.
Up Next
Women's volleyball concludes a four-game homestand on Tuesday, Oct. 13, when they host Benedictine for a non-conference game. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Follow the Vikings
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Augustana women's volleyball by following the team on Twitter at @augieathletics, on Facebook at Augustana Women's Volleyball, and on Instagram at @augie_wvb.
