SAN ANTONIO, Texas – After dropping the
first two sets by a combined score of four points, the Rollins Tars
volleyball team dropped its third match of the St. Mary's/Texas
MedClinic Invitational, 3-0 (26-24, 26-24, 25-17) against
20th-ranked Augustana, Saturday morning at Bill Greehey Arena.
With the loss, Rollins falls to 1-2, while the Vikings of
Augustana improves to 3-0.
The Tars were led by junior transfer Nikki
Hartman for a third-straight match with her 13 kills and 14
digs, to record her first double-double of the season. She was
joined by junior Natalie Branche's 11 kills and .455 hitting
percentage.
Senior setter Lacey Malarky paved the way in the assists
category where she racked up 36 to continue to extend her career
leading mark.
Accompanying Hartman with digs was freshman libero Phoebe
Corder and her team-high 22 digs. Sophomore Jenny
Sherwood tallied four block assists and one solo block to lead
the Tars in the blocking category.
The Tars and Vikings played even volleyball in the first two
sets. After trailing 19-13 in the first set, Rollins stormed back
to cut the deficit to two after a pair of kills from Branche. The
Tars would eventually tie the set at 23 when right side hitter
Caitlyn Vyborny recorded one of her four kills in the match.
Rollins earned a set-point after a kill from senior Stephanie
Nichols, but was unable to put the set away after a Tar's cross
court attacking error missed the line. The Vikings bounced back
capturing the next two points to seal the win. Branche finished
the first frame going 6-for-6 with a perfect hitting
percentage.
Trailing 1-0 in the match, the Tars would again find themselves
in a similar predicament as neither team could get a lead larger
than four points. Down 11-7, the Tars rallied four straight-points
culminated by a service ace from Karin
Barborikova to tie the match. Rollins would go on to take a
22-19 lead after capitalizing on a Viking attacking error. The
teams would be even at 24, before Augustana captured the next two
points.
The Vikings used an 11-4 run to close out the contest in the
third frame to earn their third victory of the season.
Rollins will conclude the St. Mary's/Texas MedClinic
Invitational against Eastern New Mexico at 4:45 p.m. (CST). For
free live broadcasts log on to www.RollinsSports.com
