Box Score
MOORHEAD, Minn. -- The Minnesota State University Moorhead volleyball team held a 2-1 lead in the match, but Augustana came back to win the final two sets by two points each in a 19-25, 25-21, 15-25, 25-23, 15-13 win over the Dragons in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday at Alex Nemzek Hall in Moorhead, Minn.

MSUM fell to 10-5 overall and 3-4 in the NSIC with the loss, while the Vikings, who are receiving votes in the latest AVCA Division II poll, improved to 13-2 overall and 5-2 in the league.

The loss came despite several impressive performances from the Dragons.  Sophomore Morgan Gradishar had a career-high 20 kills and 19 digs, while junior Annie Palmquist had a season-high 21 kills on a .400 hitting percentage.  Junior setter Sam Sullivan had a career-high 54 set assists to go with 20 digs, while sophomore libero Amber Krenske had a career-high 37 digs. Sophomore Kaitlin VanWinkle had 10 kills on a .320 hitting percentage, while sophomore Abby Wolpern had 14 digs.

MSUM hit .262 for the match, compared to .183 for Augustana.

The Dragons had chances to finish the match in four sets -- they led 23-20 in the fourth before the Vikings rallied -- and also held a 13-11 lead in the final set before Augustana came back.

In the final set, MSUM was down 5-3 but came back with five straight points to take an 8-5 lead. Wolpern served four of the points, while Palmquist had two kills. The Vikings battled back to tie the set at 10-10, but the Dragons answered with three straight points -- which included a Gradishar kill and a service ace from Sullivan -- to take a 13-10 lead.

The Dragons couldn't finish, however, as the Vikings scored the final five points to take a 15-13 win.

The Dragons started off strong in the opening set, jumping out to a 10-5 lead. Palmquist had three kills during the opening run while Gruber had two.

The Vikings cut the lead to 17-16, but MSUM scored the next six points to take control. Krenske served back-to-back aces -- and five points in a row overall -- while Gradishar had two kills and Sullivan one. MSUM was never threatened the rest of the set in taking a 25-19 win.

The second set was close much of the way, as the there were 11 ties in that frame only. The set was tied at 17-17 before the Vikings scored three points in a row to take a 20-17 lead. The Dragons cut the gap to 21-20 on a kill by Gradishar but got no closer in a 25-21 loss.

MSUM rebounded it a big way in the third set. After trailing 4-2, the Dragons went on an 8-2 run to surge into a 10-6 lead. Wolpern sparked the run with five straight service points, while VanWinkle, Sullivan, Gradishar and Palmquist each had kills.

Augie was within 10-7, but the Dragons pushed the lead to 15-8 thanks to  Krenske service ace. From there, it was all MSUM in a 25-15 win.

The Dragons were in good position to win the fourth set as well. They trailed 16-10 at one point but stormed back with a 13-4 run to take a 23-20 lead. Gradishar led the way with six kills during that run while Palmquist had two.

However, MSUM was unable to finish the win, as the Vikings scored the final five points of the set to secure a 25-23 win, setting up the decisive final set.

MSUM is back in action on Friday, Oct. 11 at home against Minnesota Crookston. The match begins at 7 p.m. at Alex Nemzek Hall in Moorhead.