Augie sweeps Mankato
by KDLT Sports
October 26, 2012 9:45 PM
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana completed the season sweep of no. 14 Minnesota State with a 25-20, 26-24, 25-18 victory on Friday night. The Vikings improve their overall record to 16-8 and 10-5 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action and the Mavericks fall to 16-7 overall, 10-5 in the NSIC.
This is the first time Augustana has beaten Minneosta State in consecutive games since matches in 2006 and 2007. Augustana now improves to 30-26 all-time against the Mavericks and Ashley Buckley is 3-5 against MSU.
Courtney Ysker and Holly Hafemeyer paced the Augustana offense on their way to a 25-20 first set victory. Ysker and Hafemeyer each drilled five kills and Jordan Spatenka stayed hot with four kills while the Vikings held the Mavericks to just a .119 attack percentage.
The Vikings appeared to be written off in the second set, but a surge led by Ysker and Spatenka sparked a furious comeback for the 26-24 second set victory. Down 19-13 and without a timeout, the Vikings cut the MSU lead to just one point at 19-20. The Mavericks then put on the pressure and led 23-19 but four Ysker kills gave Augustana a 25-24 lead and a Minnesota State error finished the set in the favor of the Vikings.
The Vikings rode the momentum and hopped on the Mavericks early and their lead reached a pinnacle at 19-13 forcing a Minnesota State timeout. Slowly and surely Augustana closed out MSU and took the match with a 25-18 third set victory.
Ysker finished her night with 13 kills to lead the Vikings and Spatenka pitched in with 11 as well.
Grace Sanders continues on a defensive tear, this time scooping up 26 kills in three sets of work. Marissa Johnson dished out 37 assists.
The Vikings return to the court to take on second-ranked Concordia-St. Paul Oct. 27 at 4 p.m.
