Augustana Gets Past UMC Volleyball

University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball fell in straight sets against the Augustana Vikings in an NSIC match played at the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls, SD.
Augustana jumped out to a quick start in the opening set with back-to-back kills giving the Vikings a 5-3 lead. Minnesota Crookston responded with a kill from Kaitlin Sikkink (R-Jr., St. Charles) followed by an Augustana attacking error evening the first set at 5-5. Another Vikings’ attacking error gave UMC a 7-6 lead in the set before Augustana forced a Golden Eagles’ timeout after winning five straight points giving Augustana a 12-8 lead. Minnesota Crookston responded out of the timeout with three-straight points including an ace served by Callie Schapekahm (Sr., Eagan) cutting the deficit to 12-11. A Lauren Wallace (R-Fr., Bloomington) kill pulled the Golden Eagles within 13-12 until an Augustana five-point run gave the Vikings a 17-12 lead. Augustana continued to pull away the rest of the first set winning the final five points of the opening frame to take the first set 25-14.
The Vikings continued their strong play in the second set following two-straight attacking errors which gave Minnesota Crookston a 2-0 lead bounced back to take three-straight points and gain a 5-4 advantage. Minnesota Crookston took the next three points, all of Augustana errors to gain a 7-5 lead. The Vikings took the next five points to force a UMC timeout after Augustana gained a 10-7 edge. A Porsha Porath (Fr., Windom) kill stalled the Vikings’ momentum momentarily before a three-kill streak gave the hosts a 14-9 lead. Augustana utilized three-straight aces served by libero Kaylea Ahrens (Sr., Owatonna) gave Augustana an 18-11 lead before the Vikings closed out the set with a kill from Izzy Sommers (R-Fr., Rogers) 25-18.
In the third set, Minnesota Crookston jumped out to a 2-0 lead following an ace served by Katie Lienemann. Augustana responded with a five-point run to gain a 5-2 lead. The Vikings used another five-point run to pull ahead 11-3 in the set looking to close out the sweep. Porsha Porath stopped the Vikings run momentarily before Augustana took three-straight points for a 14-4 lead.  Minnesota Crookston countered by taking four of the next five points to pull within 15-8. The Golden Eagles continued to hang with their hosts in the third set, but a comeback was not in the cards as the Vikings closed out the sweep with a 25-20 third set win.
Minnesota Crookston falls to 3-15 overall and 1-9 in the NSIC. The Golden Eagles return to the court Saturday when they travel to Wayne, Nebraska to take on Wayne State at 1 p.m. Augustana improves to 6-12 overall and 1-9 in conference play.

For UMC
Kills – Deaira Gresham – 9, Callie Schapenkahm – 6 , Kaitlin Sikkink – 6 , Porsha Porath – 6
Blocks –   Kaitlin Sikkink – 2, Syd Kruisselbrink – 2
Assists – Syd Kruisselbrink – 27
Digs – Ali Schueler – 22,  Deaira Gresham –  10, Katie Lienemann – 8
Aces –  Callie Schapenkahm – 2 , Katie Lienemann – 1