ROCK ISLAND – For the second time in three days, the Augustana Vikings men's volleyball team took the stage inside the Roy J. Carver Center on Tuesday night, defeating Marian in four sets by scores of 25–20, 25–14, 20–25, and 25–15.
The opening frame was tight early, with both teams trading side-outs through the middle stages. Augustana began to create separation behind its block, as Tom Lamb and Ryan Huntington combined for a key stop at the net that sparked a push. Alexander Sulewski followed with aggressive swings in transition, and Cole Clarke added a late kill to help the Vikings close on a strong run and secure the 25–20 win.
Set two was where Augustana firmly grabbed control of the match.
After an early exchange of points, the Vikings pieced together a sustained run fueled by efficient side-out play and disciplined defense. Clarke found rhythm on the outside, while Sulewski continued to score at a high clip in the middle. Colin Schaefer orchestrated the offense seamlessly, spreading the attack and forcing Marian out of system. The Vikings' serving pressure and net presence limited extended rallies, and Augustana pulled away convincingly for a 25–14 victory.
Marian answered in the third set, capitalizing on a mid-set surge to take control. Augustana briefly rallied behind consecutive finishes from Aidan Bolen and Lamb to level the score, but the Vikings were unable to overcome Marian's run as the visitors prevented the sweep with 25–20 set three victory.
Trailing early in the fourth set, the Vikings regrouped and strung together a momentum-shifting run sparked by a Huntington service ace and a pair of blocks from Lamb and Clarke. Sulewski added key kills in transition, and Bryce Lawson added a late offensive push. From there, Augustana dictated tempo, limiting Marian's scoring opportunities while creating more separation. The Vikings closed the match on a dominant stretch, finishing the set 25–15.
Clarke led the Vikings with 13 kills, totaling a match-high 16 points while adding three total blocks. Sulewski delivered one of his most efficient performances of the season, recording 12 kills on .550 hitting along with 2.5 total blocks. Huntington and Bolen each contributed eight kills, while Lamb added six kills and a team-best three total blocks. Schaefer directed the offense with 40 assists, adding a service ace, 1.5 total blocks, and five digs in an all-around effort. Defensively, Colin Alvers anchored the back row with 19 digs, while Bolen added 12 and Huntington chipped in seven. Augustana totaled four service aces and consistently applied pressure from the service line throughout the night.
With the victory, Augustana improves to 4–2 overall and will return to action Tuesday, February 17, making a quick trip across the Mississippi River to battle St. Ambrose. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
