Volleyball 8/31-9/1/01 -- Augsburg at Wisconsin-River Falls Tournament

St. Olaf Boxscore
Upper Iowa University Boxscore
Marian Boxscore
Luther Boxscore

RIVER FALLS, Wis. (9/1/01) -- Laura Wagner (Fr., West Bend, Wis./West Bend West HS) was named to the All-Tournament Team, leading the Augsburg College volleyball team in its opening action of the season, at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Tournament on Friday and Saturday at the Karges Center.

Augsburg went 1-3 in the season-opening tournament. The Auggies were swept by MIAC rival St. Olaf in the opening match, falling 30-20, 30-20, 30-22 on Friday, then topping Upper Iowa University in four games, 30-20, 26-30, 30-22, 30-21. On Saturday, the Auggies lost to Marian (Wis.) in four games, 30-21, 24-30, 30-25, 20-23, and were swept by Luther (Iowa), 30-24, 30-27, 30-24.

Wagner led the Auggies with 38 kills in the four matches, hitting .293. She also had six blocks and a team-high 32 digs. She was the lone Auggie to make the All-Tournament team.

Augsburg used 12 players in the weekend of action, giving numerous members of the young team significant playing time. Lisa Miller (Jr., Buffalo, Minn.) had 16 kills and a team-high 17 blocks (four solo), to go with 17 digs. Paula Pogatchnik (Jr., Finlayson, Minn./Hinckley-Finlayson HS) had 19 kills and 16 digs; Kristy Larson (Fr., Pine Island, Minn.) had 15 kills and 12 blocks (two solo); Kelly Larvick (Jr., Good Thunder, Minn./Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial HS) had 12 kills and nine blocks (two solo); and Denise Foster (Jr., Little Canada, Minn./Roseville HS) and Kevina Nakiwala (Jr., Kampala, Uganda/Ashby HS) had 10 kills apiece.

Amy Degner (Fr., Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins HS) paced the Auggies with 95 assists, adding 16 kills and 15 digs. Anna Piermantier (So., Afton,Minn./Stillwater HS) led the Auggies with eight service aces, adding 18 assists and 15 digs.

The Auggies managed just 18 kills in the opening match against St. Olaf, five from Foster, with Larvick and Miller adding five blocks apiece. Wagner had 10 kills and seven digs to lead the Auggies in the win over Upper Iowa, and stroked 13 kills and 15 digs for her first double-double of the year in the loss to Marian. Degner had eight kills and 35 assists. Wagner's 13 kills led the way against Luther, with Miller adding seven and Larvick adding six.

Augsburg has an intrasquad "Silver and Maroon Match" on Wednesday (9/5) at 7 p.m. at Si Melby Hall. The Auggies return to varsity action this weekend, hosting the 20th annual Augsburg College Invitational at Si Melby Hall on Friday (9/7) and Saturday (9/8).

Augsburg at Wisconsin-River Falls Invitational
Aug. 31-Sept. 1, 2001 at Karges Center, River Falls, Wis.

Team Records: St. Olaf 4-0; Wis.-River Falls 3-1; Wis.-Stout 3-1; Luther 2-2; Marian 1-3; Augsburg 1-3; Upper Iowa 0-4.

Friday's Matches: St. Olaf def. Stout, 30-26, 33-31, 31-29; Luther def. Marian, 30-14, 30-27, 22-30, 30-21; Stout def. Upper Iowa, 30-20, 30-20, 30-16; River Falls def. Luther, 30-25, 27-30, 30-23, 30-22; St. Olaf def. Augsburg, 30-20, 30-20, 30-23; River Falls def. Marian, 30-26, 28-30, 30-22, 30-19; Augsburg def. Upper Iowa, 30-20, 26-30, 30-22, 30-21.

Saturday's Matches: Stout def. Luther 30-18, 30-23, 30-18; River Falls def. Upper Iowa, 30-13, 30-18, 29-31, 30-13; Marian def. Augsburg, 30-21, 24-30, 30-25, 30-23; St. Olaf def. Upper Iowa, 30-15, 30-10, 30-13; Luther def. Augsburg, 30-24, 30-27, 30-24; St. Olaf def. River Falls, 30-17, 30-22, 30-25; Stout def. Marian, 30-19, 30-32, 30-18, 30-27.

All-Tournament Team: Melissa Tvrdik, River Falls; Nicole Trnka, St. Olaf; Brie Mattson, St. Olaf; Leah Thompson, Luther; Jodi Paplham, Marian; Laura Wagner, Augsburg; Rachel Eidet, Stout; Kim Roshell, Stout; Sara McKee, River Falls.