Volleyball 10/22/08 -- Augsburg 3, Bethel 2 (22-25, 25-16, 25-13, 18-25, 15-6)
MATCH BOXSCORE | AUGSBURG SEASON STATISTICS
MINNEAPOLIS (10/22/08) -- The Augsburg College volleyball team claimed its second consecutive five-set victory over a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponent with a 3-2 victory over Bethel University on Wednesday night at Si Melby Hall, marking the third consecutive year that the Auggies beat the Royals in a five-set thriller. Augsburg won by scores of 22-25, 25-16, 25-13, 18-25 and 15-6.
Augsburg jumped out to a 3-0 lead to begin the first set. The Auggies would use three kills by Amanda Rueb (SR, Plymouth, Minn./West Lutheran HS) and two by Breann Woelfel (JR, Annandale, Minn.) to extend the Auggie lead to 12-8 and force a Bethel timeout. The Royals would rally back to take a 17-15 lead and this time force the Auggies to take a timeout. Augsburg would capitalize on two kills by Woelfel and one by Barbara Simmons (JR, Minneapolis, Minn./South HS) to regain the lead at 22-21. The Royals were able to come up two big blocks to seal the 25-22 win.
The second set began similar to the first, with the Auggies jumping out to an early 7-3 lead. Augsburg was able to string together a series of runs during the set, led by five kills from Katie Christensen (SO, North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West HS). The Auggies were able to hold the Royals to a negative hitting percentage as they cruised on to the 25-16 win.
The third set began with both teams trading points back and forth to a 4-4 tie. Back-to-back kills by Christensen gave the Auggies a 7-6 lead, and they would never look back. Augsburg hit a solid .238 and claimed the impressive 25-13 third set victory.
Both teams played well in the fourth set. There were five ties during the set before the Royals were able to put together a late run using solid hitting (.326) to overpower the Auggies and force the deciding fifth set.
In the fifth set, Augsburg was able to regain its confidence and put together one of its most impressive offensive outputs of the season. The Auggies hit .600 led by Woelfel's five kills on six attempts. Augsburg was able to build an early lead and use the momentum to pull away with the 15-6 victory.
For the match, Augsburg was led by Woelfel and Julie Jenkins (SR, Edina, Minn.), who both recorded kill-dig double-doubles on the night. Woelfel led the team with 16 kills while also recording 12 digs while Jenkins posted 10 kills and a team high 22 digs. Also finishing with double-digit kills for the Auggies was Christensen with 15 and Simmons with 11. Setter Shanna Reed (JR, Eagan, Minn./Holy Angels HS) posted 43 assists in leading the Auggies to the victory.
Bethel was led by Kelly Otto and Nicole Wriedt who recorded 11 and 10 kills respectively. Defensively, the Royals were led by Hannah Parks who led all players with 24 digs. Setter Betsy Naatjes recorded 43 assists in the match.
Augsburg returns to MIAC play on Friday (10/24) at 7 p.m., travelling to Winona to take on the St. Mary's Cardinals.
