BOXSCORE ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Colleen Ourada (SR, Omaha, Neb./Mercy HS) claimed a match-high 13 kills and added nine digs, an ace and a block as the No. 13-ranked Augsburg College volleyball team clinched a berth in the six-team Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference postseason playoffs with a sweep of St. Catherine University on Wednesday evening at the Butler Center.

Augsburg (25-3 overall, 8-1 MIAC) recorded the sweep with set scores of 25-8, 25-17, 25-19. Claiming its 20th three-set sweep of the season, Augsburg has won 21 of its last 22 matches, and currently stands in second place in the MIAC.

The Auggies will compete in the six-team conference postseason playoffs for the third time in the past six seasons and the second time under fourth-year head coach Jane Becker. With two conference matches remaining in the regular season, the Auggies still have a shot at claiming a first-round bye with a finish as either the conference regular-season champion or runner-up. With the win on Wednesday, the Auggies are guaranteed to host a playoff match, since they can finish no lower than fourth in the conference standings. The third- and fourth-place finishers in the league standings host first-round playoff matches on Nov. 5, and the top two teams host semifinal matches on Nov. 7.

Against St. Catherine, Augsburg jumped out to a quick 10-3 lead in the first set, but the Wildcats (8-18 overall, 1-8 MIAC) were able to score five of the next seven points and closed the gap to four. Then the Auggies put the hammer down and rattled off 13 straight points to pick up the first set victory. The second set was a back-and-forth battle until the Auggies put together a 5-0 run and stretched their lead to 19-13, followed by a 4-0 run to get to 23-14. An error by Wildcat attacker Shelby Rachel (FY, Maple Lake, Minn./Maple Lake HS) and a kill by Jaelyn Arndt (FY, MInneapolis, Minn./Washburn HS) closed out the second set and put the Auggies in great position to pick up the sweep. With momentum on its side, Augsburg again jumped out to an early lead and stretched that lead to 22-10 at one point in the final set. Senior leader Ourada slammed home the match's final point from Augsburg's career leader in assists, Emily McCourt (SR, Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie HS). 

Jessica Lillquist (SO, Sebeka, Minn./Sebeka HS) tied a season-high with 11 kills and added one solo block in the three-set match, while setter McCourt tallied 39 assists, five digs, two service aces, and a kill.

Ashley Peper (SO, Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson HS) and Arndt finished with eight kills apiece. Peper added nine digs, a block and an assist, while Arndt picked up two digs, a block and an assist. Katelyn Berens (SR, Jordan, Minn./Prior Lake HS) led the Auggies defensively with 11 digs. 

For the Wildcats, Amber Zeiher (SO, Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson HS) and Jana Christensen (JR, North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West HS) led the way with five kills, while Shanee Herd (FY, Alexandria, Minn./Jefferson HS) chipped in 16 digs defensively, and Karsee Knutson (JR, New London, Minn./New London-Spicer) dished out 14 assists. 

The Auggies travel back to St. Paul, Minn. this Saturday (10/26) to take on Macalester College at 3 p.m.