DULUTH, Minn. -- Five Mavericks tallied double-figure kill totals as the University of Nebraska at Omaha defeated Augustana 3-1 (30-25, 16-30, 30-27, 32-30) in the first round of the NCAA II North Central Regional hosted by the University of Minnesota Duluth.
With the win, UNO improved to 17-8 on the season, registering its eighth-straight victory. The Mavericks, who avenged last season's first-round regional loss to the Vikings, will now meet top-ranked Minnesota Duluth at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.
Augustana ended its season at 19-11.
Carlie Christensen and
Kelli Goeser each recorded 13 kills, while
Nicole McLeod and
Sara Kampschnieder added 12, and
Ellen Thommes collected 11 on the night.
McLeod hit .323 in the match, registering a double-double with 18 kills, while adding four blocks. Thommes also added four blocks in the win as UNO held a commanding 8-1 advantage in total team blocks.
Katie Agnew nearly recorded a triple-double with 51 assists, 14 digs, and nine kills on .615 hitting. Agnew directed the Maverick offense to a .256 attack percentage.
Led by
Kayla Jansen's 27 digs, the Maverick defense held a 102 to 99 advantage in digs.
Liz Ingram recorded 15 digs while
Annie Rice added 14 to round out the UNO defensive effort.
The Vikings had a chance to force a fifth game as Augustana served for the fourth game at 30-29. However, two kills by Kampschnieder and an attack error by the Vikings' Ellen Andrews ended the match.
Augustana was led on the night by outside hitter Cayla Schroeder's 25 kills and 19 digs.
