DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Augustana Vikings men's volleyball team dropped a four-set decision to the Loras Duhawks on Wednesday evening, falling 3-1 (22-25, 25-22, 22-25, 16-25)
Augustana opened the match with a competitive first set, battling back against each Duhawk point. The Vikings picked up points from multiple attackers, with
Aidan Bolen and
Alexander Sulewski involved early, while
Colin Schaefer directed the offense. Loras pulled away to take the opener after a neck and neck set one.
The Vikings responded in the second set with a much more controlled and efficient stretch of volleyball. After trading points early, Augustana began to create separation behind a more consistent offensive attack. Bolen found success on the right side, while
Tom Lamb and
Cole Clarke added key kills to keep pressure on the Duhawks' defense. Midway through the set, Augustana capitalized on a string of Loras errors while also getting key touches at the net, allowing the Vikings to build a multi-point cushion. Schaefer continued to distribute effectively, keeping multiple hitters involved and preventing Loras from keying in on a single option.
In the third, Loras regained control by creating separation in the middle portion of the set. Augustana continued to find points through Bolen and Sulewski, but the Duhawks maintained their edge and moved in front 2–1. The fourth set followed a similar pattern, with Augustana hanging close early before Loras built a late cushion. The Vikings continued to generate offense across the lineup, but the Duhawks closed out the match.
Bolen, Lamb, and
Ryan Huntington each finished with six kills to lead Augustana. Lamb and Huntington each added a service ace, while Clarke led the Vikings at the net with two total blocks. Schaefer recorded 21 assists and added eight digs, matching Huntington for the team lead, while Bolen contributed seven digs.
With the loss, Augustana falls to 9–11 overall and 2–7 in CCIW play. The return to the Roy J. Carver Center for the final match of the season, as they do battle with North Park. First serve is set for 3 p.m.
