MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The Augsburg University volleyball team dropped a hard-fought 3-1 loss to No. 9-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action on Wednesday night at Si Melby Hall.

THE BASICS 
FINAL SCORE: Gustavus def. Augsburg 3-1 (24-26, 25-20, 25-20, 25-16)
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn. 
RECORDS: Augsburg 20-7 overall (6-4 MIAC), Gustavus 24-2 overall (10-0 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Auggies were able to grind out a close 26-24 victory in the first set, only to lose the next three sets to the Gusties. It was a match of strong defensive showings, with three Auggies finishing with five or more blocks and four players tallying double-digit digs. 
• Corrina Evans (SO, Blaine, Minn./Blaine HS) led the Auggies with a season-high seven blocks (two solo), her third match this season with seven blocks. Evans also added a team-best 14 kills, her 11th double-digit kill effort of the year.
• Outside hitter Kayla Gjerde (FY, Afton, Minn./Stillwater HS) had her fourth kill-dig double-double of the season, with 12 kills and a season-high 22 digs. Gjerde also had two blocks (one solo). 
• Morgan Malley (SR, Harmony, Minn./Fillmore Central HS) posted her 14th assist-dig double-double this season and 41st of her career, dishing out 39 assists and 21 digs. Malley also had four kills, three block assists and an ace. 
• Jade Boysen (FY, Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS) had six block assists, while chipping in nine kills. Megan Quam (JR, Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo HS) finished with five block assists, also adding five kills and two digs. 
• Finishing with a team-best 26 digs, Macey Terhell (SR, Osceola, Wis./Osceola HS) once again led the Auggies defensively, while adding four assists and a service ace. 
• Lexie Lang (FY, Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS) chipped in 10 digs, while Stephanie Hechsel (SR, Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley HS) had eight digs and an assist. 
• For the match, Augsburg had a 14-4 advantage in team blocks. Augsburg hit .124, while Gustavus posted a .175 hitting percentage. 

FOR THE FOES 
• Kate Holtan had a spectacular showing for the Gusties, posting 21 kills, 22 digs, two block assists and two service aces. Her sister, Nora Holtan, finished with 53 assists, 14 digs, three kills and two aces. 
• Gustavus had five players with double-digit digs, led by Hailey Embacher with 28.  
• With the win, Gustavus, ranked No. 9 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III national poll, claimed at least a share of the MIAC regular-season title -- its first since 2015. The Gusties have now won 16 matches in a row.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg finishes its regular season on Saturday (10/27) at 3 p.m, hosting Bethel University at Si Melby Hall. 
• Gustavus travels to Saint Mary's University on Friday (10/26) at 7 p.m. to close the regular season.