Box Score The University of Minnesota Duluth dropped its fifth match of the season to Augustana University Friday evening at the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. in four sets (22-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-21). The Bulldogs squeaked out the first set before the Vikings took the next three. UMD (22-5, 15-4 NSIC) split the season series with Augustana (21-8, 12-7 NSIC) with each squad taking four-set decisions on its home floor. It didn't matter which lineup head coach Jim Boos trotted out, the Bulldogs had trouble keeping any consistency on the offensive end. UMD had 53 kills but committed 36 errors while hitting a season-low .112 on the night.

The Vikings gave the UMD backrow some fits in the early going fo set one with its serve as it took the Bulldogs out of system. The Bulldogs used a key double block by sophomore middle blocker Abby Thor and sophomore setter Emily Torve during a long rally and later turn that into a point on a Junior outside hitter Makenzie Morgen smash through a block. Morgen started the set 3-for-3 as UMD used a four-point run to jump out to a 12-7 advantage after settling in. Augustana closed the lead to 18-17 and each team traded points until Torve made a diving dig with her left arm to save a point which freshman outside hitter Kate Berg eventually put down and forced the Vikings to burn their last timeout at 22-19. Augustana committed a pair of errors which guided sophomore outside hitter Hanna Meyer to throw down the final kill of the set and give the Bulldogs a 25-22 set win.

UMD hit .186 in that first set and escaped with the set. It wasn't so fortunate as it hit .129 in the second and dropped the set 25-18. The Vikings held their largest lead of the night in the set up 17-10. Jim Boos called timeout and the Bulldogs responded with three quick kills but that all they could muster into the cutting the deficit. Junior right side hitter Sarah Kelly and senior middle blocker Allison Olley combined for four kills in the beginning stages of the third to spur UMD out to a 7-2 lead. Berg gathered the Bulldogs next three points on kills. The Vikings used its block to fight its way back into the set and tie it at 11 and took the lead off a ball handling error, which caused the Bulldogs to waste a timeout. No club could gain the upper hand as the battle for the lead swung back and forth until Augustana closed out the set on back-to-back Bulldog attack errors, 12 in total in the third set. Fighting for the match, the Vikings ended a 13-13 tie in the fourth and crawled to victory as it hit .344 in the final stanza.

Kelly, a first team All-NSIC recipient, led all players with 15 kills and was one of three UMD players to collect double-digit kills. Augustana had four players with at least 10 kills including Courtney Place who led the Vikings with 14 kills. The NSIC Libero of the Year Tahlyr Banks posted 20 digs for the Vikings and Ashley Wilson blocked a match-best seven attacks. Morgen led the Bulldogs in digs with 14. Morgen, who was named to the All-NSIC second team, also compiled a pair of aces. Kelly was one short of tying Morgen in digs but nailed down her third double-double. Torve had 47 assists and 10 digs for her fifth. 

The Bulldogs end the regular season tomorrow at Wayne State College. The No. 22 Wildcats are set to engage UMD at 4:00 p.m. at the Rice Auditorium.