MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State battled throughout the entire match Friday evening but it was #16 Augustana that was able to come away with the 3-1 win (25-21, 22-25, 25-17, 25-23) at Taylor Center.

With the loss, MSU falls to 11-9 on the season, including a 5-7 NSIC record. With the win, AU improves to 17-5, including an 8-4 conference record.

The first set saw the Mavericks jump out to 6-0 lead, with MSU notching three kills. Augustana then responded with a 12-8 run to pull within two of the Mavericks at 14-12. Later in the set, both teams found themselves knotted up at 18 but it would be the Vikings who would finish the set on a 7-3 run to claim the 25-21 win.

Junior Sydney Powell led all hitters in the first set with four kills, while Au's Alex Banker passed out 12 assists.

Just like in the first set, MSU started strong as it built an 8-0 lead, which included two kills from sophomore Morgan Olson. Augustana managed to get back within one point of the Mavericks at 23-22, but kills from senior Jackie Jones and sophomore Anissa Janzig thwarted the comeback as MSU claimed the 25-22 set victory.

Olson and Janzig led the Maverick offense in second set with four kills each, while freshman Mara Quam tallied 13 digs. 

The third set saw Augustana jump out to an early 5-1 lead, but MSU was able to put together an 8-5 run to pull within one of the Vikings at 10-9. It would be all AU after that as the Vikings outscored the Mavericks 15-8 to claim a 25-17 win in the third set.

Courtney Place and Payton Rosendahl paced the Augie offense in the third set with four kills each. Olson chipped in with three kills for the Mavericks.

Set four proved to be close throughout as neither team led by more than four points. Augustana led 18-15 late in the set but MSU worked its way back to within one of the Vikings at 19-18. AU then went on a 3-0 run to go up 22-18, only to see the Mavericks charge right back with a 4-0 run to knot up the score at 22-22. Both teams then exchanged points to make it 23-23, but Augustana got the final two points of the set, including the match-winning kill by Ashley Wilson, to claim the 25-23 win.

Olson led the Maverick offense with 15 kills, while freshman Micayla Porter passed out a team-high 26 assists. Quam added a match-high 32 digs. As a team, MSU posted 54 kills and 80 digs, to go along with nine blocks. 

Place led all hitters with 18 kills, seven of which came in the final set. Banker finished with a match-high 43 assists. As a team, Augustana hit .244.

Minnesota State concludes its homestand on Saturday as it hosts #20 Wayne State at Taylor Center. The match is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m.

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