SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Winona State volleyball team battled Augustana on Saturday afternoon at the Elmen Center before falling to the Vikings in four sets, 23-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-14.
The Warriors dropped to 2-8 overall and 1-3 in NSIC play with the loss, while Augustana improved to 8-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play. Winona State finished the match with 36 kills, 32 assists, 55 digs, six service aces and seven blocks.
Zoe Haan led the Warriors with 11 kills, while Abby Ongna added nine kills and Maddie Brown finished with five. Hailee Peters recorded five kills and 27 assists, while Lily Shields anchored the defense with 15 digs. Haan and Ongna each recorded double-digit points, finishing with 12.5 and 13, respectively.
Winona State opened the match by battling back from an early deficit in the first set. Augustana built a 16-11 advantage before the Warriors began to chip away. Haan sparked the comeback with a pair of kills, and Winona State eventually tied the set at 20-20 following an Ongna service ace. The Warriors moved in front 23-21 after consecutive kills from Brown before Peters and Brown combined for the final points to give WSU a 25-23 first-set victory.
Augustana responded in the second set, building a 9-4 lead before the Warriors worked their way back within two at 12-10. The Vikings then used a 9-1 run to take control, pushing their advantage to 21-11. Winona State scored six of the next eight points, including kills from Ongna and Gracie Clary, but Augustana closed the set 25-17 to even the match.
The third set remained competitive early, with Winona State taking a 7-2 lead behind a pair of service aces from Peters and a kill from Peters. Augustana gradually erased the deficit and tied the set at 14-14 before taking the lead at 15-14. The Vikings extended their advantage late, but the Warriors stayed within striking distance at 20-18 after kills from Haan, Callie Carr and Norah Merow. Augustana closed the set with five of the final seven points to take a 25-20 lead in the match.
Augustana carried its momentum into the fourth set, jumping ahead 6-1. Winona State cut the deficit to 8-7 following kills from Ongna and an Augustana attack error, but the Vikings answered with a 6-1 run to take a 14-8 lead. Augustana continued to build its advantage and eventually reached match point at 24-13. Ongna answered with a kill to make it 24-14, but the Vikings closed out the match on the next point.
CHECKING THE BOX SCORE
- Zoe Haan led Winona State with 11 kills and 12.5 points.
- Abby Ongna added nine kills, two service aces and 13 points.
- Maddie Brown recorded five kills and two blocks.
- Hailee Peters finished with 27 assists, five kills and four service aces.
- Lily Shields paced the Warriors with 15 digs.
- Winona State finished with 36 kills, 32 assists, 55 digs, six service aces and seven total blocks.
- Augustana finished with 57 kills and hit .266 as a team.
UP NEXT
Winona State returns home Thursday, Sept. 24, to host Concordia-St. Paul at McCown Gymnasium. First serve is set for 6 p.m.
