MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus College volleyball team competed in two matches on Friday for the opening day of the Augsburg Invite. The Gusties swept both the Minnesota Morris Cougars and the Grinnell College Pioneers to improve to 4-1 this fall.
In the opening match against Minnesota Morris, the Gusties and Cougars were tied at 7-7 in the first set until Gustavus caught fire with a 7-0 run to take a 14-7 lead. The run powered the Gusties to take the opening set 25-18.
In the second set, Minnesota Morris took a 17-16 lead midway through. The Gusties then won five of the next six points to go up 21-18. The Cougars battled back to get to 21-20, but Gustavus went on to win four of the final five points to win the set 25-21 and go up 2-0 in the match.
In the final set, the Gusties led 15-14 before going on a 6-1 run to go up 21-15. Minnesota Morris responded with a 6-0 run to tie the set up at 21-21. Gustavus then slammed the door closed with a 4-0 run to close out the set 25-21 and clinch the 3-0 match victory.
Against Grinnell, the Gusties and Pioneers were tied 8-8 early in the opening set. Then, Gustavus went on to win the next 10 points in a row and close out the set with a 17-2 run for a 25-10 win.
The Gusties picked up right where they left on in the second set as they opened with a 7-0 run. Grinnell, however, answered with a 5-0 run of their own to climb back into the set early. The Pioneers would go on to take a 22-20 lead late in the set, but Gustavus then won four in a row and five of the next six points to take the set 25-23 and to up 2-0 in the match.
Set three was deadlocked 6-6 early, but then the Gusties won six points in a row and 10 of the next 11 to go up 16-7. The Gusties later led 21-12 right before Grinnell went on a 6-0 run to cut the Gustavus lead down to three points at 21-18. Nonetheless, the Gusties would go on to take the set and match with a 4-1 run, securing the sweep and their fourth win of the season.
Up next for the Gusties are two more matches at the Augsburg Invitational on Saturday. Gustavus will open the day against Lakeland University at 10 a.m. in the morning and then battle the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse at 12:30 p.m.
