Volleyball 11/1/08 -- St. Thomas 3, Augsburg 0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-22)

MATCH BOXSCORE | AUGSBURG SEASON STATISTICS

ST. PAUL, Minn. (11/1/08) -- The Augsburg College volleyball closed out its season with a tough 3-0 loss to the University of St. Thomas on Saturday afternoon at Schonecker Arena in St. Paul. The Auggies lost to the conference-champion Tommies by scores of 25-22, 25-17 and 25-22.

Augsburg closed out the season with a record of 17-12 overall (5-6 MIAC), which ties the most wins for an Augsburg volleyball team since the 1998 season. The Auggies finished in a tie for sixth place in the MIAC standings with Carleton and St. Mary's, but lost out on a playoff berth due to tiebreaker criteria, with St. Mary's earning the berth. St. Thomas will host a semifinal playoff game on Thursday (11/6) at 7 p.m. at Schonecker Arena in St. Paul.

For the match, Augsburg was led by Barbara Simmons (JR, Minneapolis, Minn./South HS) and Julie Jenkins (SR, Edina, Minn.). Simmons recorded eight kills, two digs and three blocks, while Jenkins posted seven kills, five digs and four blocks. Defensively, the Auggies were led by Dani Tanaka (JR, Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS), who recorded 18 digs on the afternoon.

In the first set, the Tommies took advantage of a couple of Augsburg hitting miscues as they took a 5-1 lead. St. Thomas would build its lead up to 17-10 and force an Augsburg timeout. The Auggies were able to regroup and score seven of the next eight points, sparked by big blocks from Jenkins and Simmons, and from Jenkins and Amanda Rueb (SR, Plymouth, Minn./West Lutheran HS). St. Thomas would be forced to take a timeout as the Auggies had closed the gap to 18-17. The Tommies were able to regain the momentum as they went on to close out the 25-22 first set win.

Augsburg started well in the second set, taking a 7-5 lead on kills by Simmons, Rueb and Katie Christensen (SO, North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West HS). Momentum would shift as St. Thomas setter Emily Foster served nine consecutive points as the Tommies took a 14-7 lead.  The lead proved too much for the Auggies, as St. Thomas gained a 25-17 victory in the second set. 

The third set found the Auggies down 19-10 and needing a timeout to regroup. Augsburg was able to regain the momentum as it cut the lead to 24-22 off pairs of kills by Jenkins and Christensen, and a big block by Simmons and Breann Woelfel (JR, Annandale, Minn.). Augsburg was not to complete the comeback as St. Thomas sealed the 25-22 win.

St. Thomas was led by Katie McCaffrey, who recorded 13 kills on 27 attempts (.407). Kyley Crotty led the Tommies defensively with 21 digs, while setter Emily Foster contributed 32 assists.