Duluth, MN.- The College of St. Scholastica Volleyball team began their MIAC competition with a game against Augsburg University at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 24. The home opener for the Saints was a riveting five set match in the Reif that ended in favor of the home team (3-2).
How it Happened
Set 1
The Saints started off the first set with a struggle against Augsburg. After trailing the Auggies 7-2, Saints Freshman Katlyn Jones (Bloomer, WI/Bloomer HS) found a gap in the opponent's defense and secured a kill.
The gap between the teams began to get larger until Bryn Ziegler (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson HS) had back-to-back service aces to put the gap at 8-16. Set one ended 25-11 in favor of Augsburg University.
Set 2
Set two started very differently for the Saints with Lindsey Baribeau (Biwabik, Minn./Mesabi East HS) destroying the ball to get her first kill of the set and game. Cassidy Lustig (Ashland, WI/Ashland HS) followed this with two service aces and had the Saints fired up.
Augsburg was quickly stopped on their attempt to pull ahead of the Saints with a kill from Mikala Peterson (Mora, Minn./Mora HS) which helped the team extend their lead even further, holding a three point lead (6-3).
After a small back and forth battle, Saints setter Natalie Yackley (New Ulm, Minn./New Ulm HS) recorded a kill for the team which was followed by another service ace from Ziegler.
The drive for a win did not stop there as the Blue and Gold continued to battle and hold a lead over Augsburg with intense swings from Baribeau and Lustig. The momentum was continued by a wall of blocks from Ava Swangstue (Grand Forks, N.D./Red River HS) and Jones.
The Saints defense was all across the court helping their setter Yackley give the hitters more opportunities to score. Set two was ended by the front row's defense with a block from Baribeau and Lustig allowing the Saints to win 25-17.
Set 3
Starting set three the Saints held their momentum from the second set and went on a 3-0 run over Augsburg with kills from Jones and Peterson. With another two significant kills from Swangstue the Saints controlled their three point lead at 6-3.
Jones could not be stopped in the front row and recorded two more kills for the Saints holding their lead above the Auggies(11-10).
Yackley continued assisting the hitters, especially freshman CC Seibel (Bloomer, Wi/Bloomer HS) as she remained a power house in the Saints front row recording three consecutive kills. Even with the Saints continued efforts late in the set they fell just short of victory with a 25-22 loss in the third set.
Set 4
The battle for a lead continued between the Auggies and Saints in set four with kills from Baribeau and Peterson early on.
With the Saints trailing 10-4, Swangstue lit the fire for the Saints finding a gap in the Auggie defense and starting off their five point run.
The long rallies for points continued throughout the fourth set until Lustig smashed down a kill, which was followed by a service ace from Zeigler to put the Saints ahead 17-16.
The Saints defense remained strong as they continued to fight for a win over Augsburg. Swangstue remained a powerhouse for the Saints offensively, with three more kills which led the Saints to a 25-23 victory over Augsburg to head to a fifth set.
Set 5
The fifth set started intensely on both sides of the court. The Saints offense remained ahead of Augsburg with kills from Baribeau and Peterson. After a massive defensive play at the net from Jones and Baribeau the Saints lead 3-2.
The set remained a high-energy battle with both teams not wanting to sacrifice a point. The Saints however did not let up on their momentum and lead 8-7 after a kill from Swangstue.
Jones and Peterson remained forceful at the net and both received another kill for the Saints putting their lead at 12-10 late in set five.
St. Scholastica's team stayed hot and pushed forward with a kill from Jones to end the set 15-10 and win the match. The Saints recorded their first conference victory and first five set match win of the season.
Next Up
The Saints will hit the road again this week on Friday, September 27 at 7 p.m. to play Carelton College in Hastings, MN.
