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MINNEAPOLIS -- The Augsburg volleyball team continued its solid start to the 2011 season, defeating the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in four sets (28-26, 25-12, 16-25, 25-14) Tuesday night. The win moves the Auggies' overall record to 4-1 on the year, and marks the third time in the last four years that the team has opened the season with four wins in its first five matches.

The first set featured evenly matched play by both sides, as the two teams combined for 17 ties and 10 lead changes. Trailing 24-22 late, the Auggies were able to fight off two set-point opportunites to pull out an exciting 28-26 win.

"Tonight was a solid win for us against a quality, well-coached opponnent in River Falls," said Augsburg head coach Jane Becker.  "I thought we showed a lot of toughness mentally in coming back to win the first game, and I think that certainly helped set the tone for the rest of the match."

The Auggies were able to carry the momentum into the second set, as they never trailed en-route to a convincing 25-12 victory. After River Falls (2-3) responed with a win in the third set, the Auggies won 14 out of the final 17 points in the fourth set to secure the victory.   

Leading the Augsburg attack against the Falcons was Colleen Ourada (SO, Omaha, Neb./Mercy HS), as the outside hitter recorded a team-high 17 kills in the Auggie win. Ourada's 17 kills matched her previous career high, which she set last October in the Auggies five-set win against Carleton. Ourada has led the Auggies in kills during four of the team's five matches played this season.

Joining Ourada on the Augsburg attack were Micha Sater (JR, Fridley, Minn./Centennial HS), Nikolene Miller (JR, Tomahawk, Wis.) and Jamila Lee (JR, Richfield, Minn.). Sater recorded eight kills, nine digs, and a team-high five service aces for the Auggies, while Miller also recorded eight kills and a team-high .286 hitting percentage to go along with a match-high eight blocks. Lee chipped in with seven kills and two blocks.

Augsburg setter Emily McCourt (SO, Sun Prairie, Wis.) continued her solid play in 2011, as she recorded a team-best 40 assists to go along with 13 digs and one service ace.

Defensive specialist Katelyn Berens (SO, Jordan, Minn./Prior Lake HS) recorded a team-high 18 digs in the match, while Amy Jo Opsal (SR, North Mankato, Minn./St. Clair HS) added 10 digs for Augsburg.

For Wisconsin-River Falls, Erin Green (JR, Fridley, Minn.) recorded a team-high 10 kills in the loss, while teammate Mackenzie Suda (JR, Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine HS) led the Falcons with 20 assists in the match.

The Auggies move on to host the 30th annual eight-team Augsburg Volleyball Invitational this weekend, with matches starting at 2 p.m. on Friday afternoon. Augsburg will play host to Northwestern-Roseville at 4 p.m. Friday, before facing 2010 NCAA Division III national finalist St. Thomas Friday evening at 8 p.m. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Auggie Invite, and a special ceremony will be held at the conclusion of Saturday afternoon's match.