BOXSCORE
PHOTO GALLERY

MINNEAPOLIS -- The duo of Katie Christensen (JR, North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West HS) and Barbara Simmons (SR, Minneapolis, Minn./South HS) continued to lead the Augsburg College volleyball team offensively as the Auggies claimed a 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-22) match victory over Hamline University in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action at Si Melby Hall on Wednesday night.

Simmons posted 14 kills while hitting an impressive .480 (14-for-25) for Augsburg (9-6 overall, 2-0 MIAC), while Christensen led all players with 16 kills on 32 attempts (.438). Shanna Reed (SR, Eagan, Minn./Holy Angels HS) dished out 45 assists, while Dani Tanaka (SR, Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS) and Amy Jo Opsal (SO, Mankato, Minn./St. Clair HS), recorded 14 and 13 digs respectively to anchor a tough Auggie defense.

Hamline (9-5 overall, 0-2 MIAC) was led by Tasha Simmons, who recorded nine kills and 10 digs. Heidi Larson led all players with 15 digs, while Jackie Kelly distributed 17 assists for the Pipers.

The Auggies came out very strong offensively in the first set, hitting an impressive .406. Augsburg took a quick 8-2 lead but was not able maintain the advantage as the Pipers cut the Auggie lead to 16-15. Augsburg was able to outscore Hamline 9-3 over the remainder of the set, sparked by a pair of aces from Tanaka, as the Auggies claimed a 25-18 first set victory.

Reed got the Auggies off on the right foot in the second set, rattling off seven straight serves, putting Augsburg up 7-0. Hamline used a serving run of their own to close the gap to 12-10 but the Augsburg hitters proved to be two much for the Pipers to handle as Christensen, Simmons and Amanda Unze (FY, Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska HS) used some timely hitting to allow Augsburg to cruise to a 25-15 win in the second set.

In the third set, Augsburg took a 9-4 lead but couldn't seem to shake the Pipers. Simmons and newcomer Lauren Butler (FY, Burnsville, Minn.) proved to be the difference in the set as both hit over .500 and anchored the Augsburg offense. Simmons finished the set with eight kills on 13 attempts, while Butler claimed five kills on eight attempts. Augsburg was to outlast the Pipers and claim a 25-22 deciding win.

Augsburg returns to action on Friday (9/25) at 7 p.m., when it hosts MIAC foe Gustavus Adolphus College in conference action at Si Melby Hall. Hamline returns to action on on Saturday (9/26) when it hosts St. Mary's University.