MINNEAPOLIS -- The Augsburg University volleyball team used a strong defensive effort to pick up an important Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over Saint Mary's University in the Auggies conference home-opener.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg def. St. Mary's 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-18, 25-17)
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn. 
RECORDS: Augsburg 10-3 overall (1-1 MIAC), St. Mary's 10-5 overall (1-1 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Augsburg defense was key in picking up the important MIAC win over the Cardinals. The Auggies recorded 73 team digs and 13 team blocks -- the fourth time this season the Auggies have recorded 11+ team blocks. Individually, Macey Terhell (JR, Osceola, Wis./Osceola HS) paced Augsburg with 22 digs, while adding seven assists.
• Corrina Evans (FY, Blaine, Minn./Blaine HS) had the best individual Augsburg blocking performance since a 10 block effort by Nikolene Miller in 2012. Evans finished the match with nine block assists, while adding 13 kills.
• Also picking up double-digit digs for Augsburg was Stephanie Hechsel (JR, Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley HS) with 13 and Sydnie Zachary (SO, Applie Valley, Minn./Bloomington Jefferson HS) with 10.
• The Auggies had two players with double-doubles on the night -- Morgan Malley (JR, Harmony, Minn./Fillmore Central HS) with 40 assists and 15 digs and Taylor Linn (SR, Shoreview, Minn/Mounds View HS) with 10 kills and 10 digs.
• Outside hitters Jordan Weeding (SR, Greenfield, Minn./Rockford HS) and Ellie Schwartz (SO, Woodbury, Minn.,/Hill Murray) added 13 and nine kills respectively.

FOR THE FOES
• Brandi Blattner led all players with 15 kills, while adding seven digs and an assist.
• Clare Tack picked up 21 digs, while Brittney Hanson finished with a 21-assist, 18-dig double-double.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg returns to action on Saturday (9/23) at 3 p.m., when the Auggies travel to Moorhead, Minn. to take on Concordia College.