MATCH BOXSCORE

MINNEAPOLIS (9/29/08) -- The Augsburg College volleyball team swept North Central University (Minn.) in a nonconference match on Monday night at Si Melby Hall, winning by scores of 25-12, 25-12, 25-17. The Auggies took the early lead and never looked back as they went on to improve their overall record to 9-8 while North Central fell to 5-15.

The first set of the evening began with the Auggies taking a commanding 10-1 lead off a pair of kills by Melissa Larsen (JR, Andover, Minn.), Barbara Simmons (JR, Minneapolis, Minn./South HS), and Breann Woelfel (JR, Annandale, Minn.). The Auggie offense could not be slowed down as they cruised to a 25-12 victory led by Larsen's six kills on seven attempts (.857). Augsburg hit .364 for the set and doubled North Central's kill total, 16 kills for the Auggies and only eight for the Rams.

The second set began much more balanced than the first. Both teams traded points back and forth to an 11-8 score, when Woelfel took over the serving position and rattled off 11 straight serves to give the Auggies a 21-9 lead. Kills by Caitlin Batzlaff (FY, Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata HS) and Simmons, as well as a serving error by the Rams, closed out the set and gave the Auggies their second 25-12 victory of the night.

The Auggies used a balanced offensive attack in the third set to overpower the Rams. Six different Augsburg players recorded kills in the set, while Denielle Johnson (SO, Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park HS) and Julie Jenkins (SR, Edina, Minn.) split setting duties, each recording four assists. Libero Dani Tanaka (JR, Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS) led the team with six digs and recorded two key service aces down the stretch to put the match away for the Auggies.

Augsburg out-hit, out-dug and out-blocked North Central during the match. The Auggies recorded a .212 hitting percentage, posted 37 digs and four team blocks. Augsburg was led by Larsen's nine kills on 12 attempts (.750). Also playing a big factor for the Auggies was 13 service aces, including five by Woelfel, who also led the team in digs with 11.

North Central was led by Kelli Patrick, who recorded seven kills, and Samantha Eide, who had 11 digs.

The Auggies next action will be a key MIAC matchup with Macalester on Wednesday (10/1) at 7 p.m. in St. Paul. Augsburg will also play another conference contest on Friday (10/3) at 7 p.m., as it travels to Hamline to take on the Pipers.