BOXSCORE MINNEAPOLIS -- Emily McCourt (SR, Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie HS) became Augsburg College's career leader in assists, recording 48 to lead the No. 15-ranked Auggies to their 24th win, a four-set victory over visiting Saint Mary's University in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference volleyball match on Saturday at Si Melby hall. 

The Auggies (24-3 overall, 7-1 MIAC), ranked No. 15 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III national poll, claimed the win over the Cardinals (21-7 overall, 4-4 MIAC) by scores of 25-23, 11-25, 28-26, and 25-18. The four-set win gets Augsburg back on track after No. 5 St. Thomas ended its 19-match winning streak on Wednesday.

With her match-best 48-assist effort, McCourt is now the career assist leader in Augsburg history with 3,929. She passed Tasha Hamann '98, who previously held the record with 3,926 assists (1995-98). McCourt recorded her assist total in 112 career matches (404 sets, 9.73 assists-per-set). With 995 assists this season, she is five away from recording 1,000-plus assists for the third straight year. McCourt also has 170 career service aces, good enough for second in Augsburg history.

The Auggies jumped out to an early 12-2 lead in the first set before seeing the Cardinals rally and cut the lead to two at 21-19. Three kills by Jessica Lillquist (SO, Sebeka, Minn./Sebeka HS) helped the Auggies secure the first-set win. The momentum shifted in the second set as the Cardinals came out on fire and led 10-3. Eleven attacking errors doomed the Auggies and allowed Saint Mary's to cruise to an easy second-set win. The third set of the afternoon proved to be the most exciting, with neither team leading by more than four. Augsburg trailed 25-26 before back to back kills from Ourada and an emphatic solo block by Peper won the third set. With momentum back on its side, Augsburg won the fourth set, securing its 24th win of the season, the program's most since 1985. The Auggies were able to block 11 Cardinal attacks in the match, contributing to the Cardinals' .138 hitting percentage. 

Ashley Peper (SO, Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS) claimed her ninth kill-dig double-double this season with 19 kills and 15 digs, while hitting .311. Peper added three blocks, two aces and two assists. Colleen Ourada (SR, Omaha, Neb./Mercy HS) recorded her 12th kill-dig double-double this season with 16 kills and 14 digs. Ourada also added a match-best six blocks (one solo) and a service ace.  

Lillquist added seven kills and three blocks, while Taylor Trautman (FY, Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson HS) and Ellen Sachs (FY, Minneapolis, Minn./South HS) each picked up five kills. Trautman also finished with  four blocks (one solo) and Sachs recorded a match-best hitting percentage of .500. Katelyn Berens (SR, Jordan, Minn./Prior Lake HS) finished with a match-best 28 digs and also picked up an assist. 

For Saint Mary's, Alex Peterson (So, Harmony, Minn./Fillmore Central) matched Peper's kill total of 19 and added three blocks, while Kenzie Lind (SO, Rushford, Minn./Rushford-Peterson HS) also finished in double figures with 11 kills, four digs and two blocks. Lexi Assimos (SR, Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North HS) recorded 42 assists, nine digs, three kills and two blocks. 

Augsburg returns to MIAC play Wednesday (10/23) when it travels to St. Paul, Minn. to take on St. Catherine University at 7 p.m.