Photo: Matt Berkner '19, Gustavus Sports Information
ST. PETER, Minn. – The No. 16-ranked Gustavus volleyball team battled back to take win in five sets over Augsburg University during senior night Wednesday evening at Gus Young Court, improving to 22-5 overall and 7-3 in the MIAC.
Gustavus 3, Augsburg 2: 25-23, 19-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-4 (Box Score)
After Gustavus claimed a 1-0 lead, the Auggies fought back and took the next two to claim a 2-1 lead. However, the Gusties then battled back to take the next two and earned their first five-set victory of the season, snapping a two-game losing skid.
Hanna Albers (Jr., St. Louis, Mo.) and Kate Holtan (Fy., Rochester, Minn.) led the Black and Gold attack, tallying 16 kills each. Nora Holtan (Jr., Rochester, Minn.) set up the offense with a double-double, totaling 47 assists and 17 digs while hitting .350 with nine kills. Brittany Luethmers (Jr., Prior Lake, Minn.) guided the defense with 20 digs.
Gustavus recorded 65 kills and posted a .220 attack percentage, compared to 70 kills and a .199 attack percentage from the Auggies.
A see-saw first frame set up an exciting five-set match, with both teams going back and forth until the Gusties strung together a five-point run to grab a six-point lead, in which they held on to take a 1-0 lead.
Augsburg took over in sets two and three, limiting Gustavus to hitting percentages of .175 and .154, while compiling 34 kills.
Similar to set one, the fourth set had another back and forth pace. After a solid start for the home team, the Auggies fought back and forced a Gustie timeout after knotting the score at 21-21. After the break, Gustavus closed out the set on a 4-2 run to even the match.
The Black and Gold seemed to find their game in the fifth set, cruising to a 11-2 lead and maintaining momentum for the victory.
“It was a very competitive match tonight,” said Head Coach Rachelle Shereden. “We battled back in the fourth set and embraced the challenge Augsburg handed us. We bounced back by staying aggressive with our serving and attacking and overall playing for the love of the game. Tonight was a good match to get our team back on track of playing Gustavus Volleyball.”
Gustavus, now 22-5 overall and 7-3 during league play, close out the 2017 regular season at Gus Young Court Saturday afternoon, hosting Saint Mary’s University at 3 p.m.