TAMPA, Florida – The No. 17-ranked Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat volleyball team posted a 3-1 triumph over the Augustana University Vikings Friday at the 2021 Courtyard by Marriott Volleyball Classic at the Martinez Center.
 
Northwest won by set scores of 25-21, 25-17, 22-25 and 25-18. Northwest won its sixth season opener in seven years with the four-set victory.
 
The Bearcats rolled in the opening set building up a 13-3 lead over the Vikings. Augustana closed to within 16-12 only to see Northwest push the lead back to 21-15. Northwest held of Augie in the closing moments of the set as the Vikings trimmed the lead to 23-20. Northwest hit .371 in the opening set with 15 kills and two attack errors in the 25-21 victory.
 
Augustana gained the upper-hand early in the second with an 8-5 advantage. Northwest used a 6-1 run to turn an 11-9 deficit into a 15-12 lead. Northwest closed the set on a 6-0 run after Augustana pulled to within 19-17. Northwest added 12 kills and hit .214 in the second.
 
The Vikings were able to secure a 25-22 triumph in the third set. Augustana held Northwest to a .171 hitting percentage in the third.
 
Northwest finished off Augie in the fourth with a 25-18 win. Northwest sided out at a 66% clip in the fourth – its highest set percentage in the match. The Bearcats also collected 17 kills and hit .204. The set was deadlocked at 15-15 before Northwest closed on a 10-3 spurt.
 
Four Bearcats reached double-figures in kills totals in the win. Rachel Sturdevant (13), Olivia Dir (12), Jaden Ferguson (10) and Payton Kirchhoefer (10) all tallied at least 10 kills. Alyssa Rezac recorded a double-double with 36 assists and 10 digs. Hannah Koechl posted a team-high 18 digs. Ferguson and Sturdevant each notched four blocks. Dir served up a team-best four service aces.