Courtesy of Augustana College

HILO, HAWAII – Augustana closed out the Vulcan Classic with an easy sweep over host Hawaii-Hilo 25-18, 25-15, 25-18.  The Vikings set several season highs along the way to bringing their record to 2-2.

The Vikings pulled away from the Vulcans in the middle of the first set and won 25-18.  With neither team able to create any early separation, Augustana used three Hawaii-Hilo errors to gain a four-point lead at 16-12.

The Vikings then stretched that lead to seven points after a Julia Witt ace and kills from Taylor Hrdlichka and Brooke Lewko.  Holly Hafemeyer put the Vulcans away in the first with back-to-back kills.  The Vikings forced nine errors for Hawaii-Hilo and cruised to an easy set win.

Augustana jumped on the Vulcans quick and didn't look back in the second set, winning 25-15.  The Vikings scored the first six of seven points in the set and Augustana continued to expand on their early lead.

After the Vulcans notched the next point on a service error, they would get no closer as Taylor Hrdlichka continued her dominance with four kills to take the wind out of Hawaii-Hilo's sails and finish set two.

Hawaii-Hilo scored the first point but was unable to obtain another lead as Augustana finished out the match 25-18.  The Vulcans did make a late charge, cutting the lead to one, but the deficit was too large to erase.

Senior outside hitter Jordan Spatenka returned to her old ways nailing 12 kills and Taylor Hrdlichka smashed 10 while swinging at a .474 clip.

Augustana set a season high for digs with 55, including season-high 19 from Grace Sanders and 10 for Kayla Wallerich.

Junior setter Katie Niesen saw her first action as a Viking totaling 14 assists after replacing Marissa Johnson in the second set. Johnson finished with 22 assists in her limited playing time.

As a team, Augustana held the Vulcans to a season-low .034 attack percentage topping their previous low from the first match with Hawaii-Hilo.

The Vikings will take the court again next weekend for the Black Hills State Tournament in Spearfish, S.D.  Sept. 7 and 8.

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