DULUTH, Minn. — The College of St. Scholastica volleyball team opened both its home schedule and Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play Friday night at Reif Gymnasium, falling to Augsburg University in four sets.
The Saints (4-8, 0-1 MIAC) battled the Auggies closely through the opening three sets before Augsburg pulled away in the fourth to earn a 25-23, 20-25, 25-20, 25-13 victory.
The opening set featured eight ties and six lead changes, with neither side able to create much separation. Augsburg eventually edged St. Scholastica 25-23 to take the early advantage.
CSS answered with its strongest offensive set of the night in the second. The Saints recorded 18 kills against just three errors on 52 attempts, hitting .288 as a team on their way to a 25-20 set victory to even the match at one set apiece.
Augsburg regained control in the third, taking a 25-20 decision before closing out the match with a 25-13 victory in the fourth.
Abby Zins (Chisago Lakes, MN/Chisago Lakes High School) led St. Scholastica with 16 kills while hitting .263, while Lilli Rechichi (Ely, MN/Ely Memorial HS) added 14 kills on 28 attempts with just one error for a team-best .464 hitting percentage.
Bailey Husbands (Baudette, MN/Lake of the Woods HS) directed the Saints' offense with 34 assists and added seven digs. Cassidy Lustig (Ashland, WI/Ashland HS) led CSS defensively with 20 digs, Lauren Kahl (Ridgeland, WI/Prairie Farm HS) added 15 and Bryn Ziegler (Hutchinson, MN/Hutchinson HS) finished with 10 digs and two service aces.
St. Scholastica finished with 48 kills compared to Augsburg's 43, but the Auggies committed just 10 attacking errors and hit .228 for the match. The Saints hit .151 with 23 attacking errors.
The Saints return to MIAC play Saturday, Sept. 26, traveling to St. Paul to face Macalester College at 5 p.m.
