Augustana Drops Two At Vulcan Classic

Vikings outmatched by impressive British Columbia squad
HILO, HI -- The Vikings were outplayed by an talented British Columbia squad and dropped their second match of the season to fall to 1-2.  Augustana was held to a season low .020 hitting percentage on their way to the 25-2-, 25-18, 25-16 defeat.

After an exhausting match only a couple hours earlier, the Vikings came out flat against the two-time defending Canadian national champion team.  British Columbia built a 16-8 lead in the first set assisted by 11 errors by Augustana.  The Vikings cut the lead to three at 17-20, but it wasn't enough as the Thunderbirds finished the set 25-20 aided by the 13 errors and -.029 attack percentage by Augustana.

The second set started off back and forth with neither team faltering until the Thunderbirds broke a 7-7 tie with four straight points, including two service aces.  Those four points were the start of a 9-3 run for British Columbia, but Augustana narrowed the gap to 17-19 led by a couple Taylor Hrdlichka kills.  Three errors by the Vikings sparked the six points that the Thunderbirds needed to close out set two 25-18.

In the third set, Augustana registered the first point, but surrendered six of the next seven on an assortment of errors and Thunderbird kills. The Augustana deficit reached its largest point at 22-13 when every attack the Thunderbirds made seemed to find the floor.  A couple of kills from Hrdlichka and Lindsey Petersen broke the British Columbia run, but it wasn't enough as the Thunderbirds closed out the match with a third set 25-16 win.

Taylor Hrdlichka led the offense with six kills and no errors for a .600 attack percentage, her highest for the season.

Marissa Johnson dished out 17 assists to eight different Vikings and Grace Sanders reached double digit digs for the second time this season with 11.

The Vikings offense was assisted by 13 service errors by British Comlumbia, but only swung at a .020 clip.

Augustana wraps up the Vulcan Classic with a midnight matchup against Hawaii-Hilo tomorrow, Sept. 1.

Vikings fight hard, fall in three close sets
HILO, HI -- Augustana fought hard but dropped match two of the Vulcan Classic to Nebraska-Kearney.  The Vikings' effort wasn't good enough to best the 4th ranked Lopers ultimately losing 25-21, 25-19, 26-24 and now sit at 1-1 in the 2012 season.

The first set was tight from start to finish.  Until the Lopers took the lead 22-19, neither team had a lead larger than two points.  Holly Hafemeyer had four kills and Taylor Hrdlichka contributed three, but the Vikings only hit a .114 attack percentage.

The momentum from set one carried over for the Lopers as they jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead.  They steadily expanded their lead over the Vikings reaching eight points six times.  Once the score hit 21-13, Vikings gave it one more shot in set two.  Hafemeyer ripped off four kills to help pull the Vikings within four points at 23-19, but the Lopers closed it out with two quick kills.

The Vikings held a slight lead in the early stages of the third set, but a four-point flurry from Nebraska-Kearney gave the Lopers a lead at 17-14, but the Vikings clawed their way back to knot the score at 19 apiece.  After falling behind 23-21, Augustana took a lead at 24-23 with the help of a Brooke Lewko kill and a Marissa Johnson ace.  The Lopers then closed out the third set on three straight errors from Vikings players to finish the match.

Holly Hafemeyer led the way offensively with another efficient night.  Hafemeyer smashed a match-high 16 kills, with only one error for another outstanding .417 attack percentage.

Freshman Marissa Johnson continues to play well from the setter position as she bested her previous career high (set the previous night) with 39 assists.

Kayla Wallerich and Julia Witt each dug 12 balls to lead the Vikings and as a team.  Augustana had 12 block assists equating to 6 total blocks.

The Vikings fall to 3-4 all-time against Nebraska-Kearney.

Courtesy:  Augustana College