BOXSCORE MINNEAPOLIS --
Ashley Peper (FY, Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS) collected a match-high 12 kills and added a team-high 15 digs, as the Augsburg College volleyball team cruised to a three-set victory (25-13, 25-19, 25-19) over the Luther College Norse in nonconference action on Friday evening at Si Melby Hall.
The match marked Augsburg head coach
Jane Becker's first appearance against her former team since taking over the Auggie program prior to the 2010 season. Becker had previously spent three seasons as the Luther head coach, where she guided the Norse to the school's first-ever NCAA Division III national tournament berth in 2009.
Augsburg (11-8 overall) claimed an early 13-10 lead in the first set, and scored 12 out of the last 15 points late in the game to win the first set 25-13. Both teams traded points throughout the second set before the Auggies closed with a 6-1 run to earn the 25-19 win in set two. After dropping the first point in the third set, the Auggies would not trail again en route to a 25-19 win and match victory.
Peper, who ranks seventh among MInnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference participants with a 3.21 kills-per-set average, hit .250 to go along with her 12 kills and 15 digs. Peper also added three blocks for the Auggies, who owned a 13-6 block advantage over the Norse (8-10 overall).
A trio of Auggies --
Micha Sater (SR, Fridley, Minn./Centennial HS),
Nikolene Miller (SR, Tomahawk, Wis.) and
Tabby Roh (SO, LaCrosse, Wis./Central HS) -- added five kills each for Augsburg. Roh claimed a match-high six blocks (one solo), while Miller and Sater added four and three respectively.
Jamila Lee (SR, Richfield, Minn.) collected four kills and matched Roh with six blocks in the match.
Emily McCourt (JR, Sun Prairie, Wis.) recorded a match-high 29 assists, to go along with six digs. Defensive specialist
Emma Sievers (SO, St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall HS) and
Lauren Butler (SR, Burnsville, Minn./Prior Lake HS) collected eight digs each, while
Mackensie Menke (SO, Prior Lake, Minn./Shakopee HS) added six digs.
For Luther, Hannah Wilson (JR, Deephaven, Minn./Minnetonka HS) claimed a team-high eight kills, while teammate Hannah Theisen (FY, Rochester, Minn.) added seven kills. Setter Lindsey Ryan (FY, Eagan, Minn./Eastview HS) claimed a team-high 21 assists.
The Auggies return to action on Saturday (10/6) with a nonconference game on the road against the University of Wisconsin-River Falls at 2 p.m.
