Chicago, Ill. – The North Park men's volleyball team took the first set against Augustana College but dropped the next three to lose their first match of the season by a score of 3-1 Wednesday night at NPU Gymnasium.
NPU was rarely denied in the first set as the hosts were hitting 0.846 with no attacking errors in the first frame, compared to a 0.042 hitting percentage to Augie. With North Park already ahead 15-11, seven straight points with Armando Quinones serving put the home Vikings in very firm control at 22-11, doubling up their opposition. Soon after, Emmanuel Euguene poked over a kill to put NPU at match-point and when Augustana couldn't get the serve over the net, North Park went up 1-0.
Augie responded with a strong set of their own and had the home side trailing 24-15 and facing set point. Four straight points by NPU including kills from Quinones and Teddy Gedville help stave off the inevitable before Augustana finally got a kill and squared the match at one set each.
Augustana got out to a quick 8-2 on the hosts but North Park didn't let the visiting Vikings get away easy. Down 22-17 late in the set, the hosts scored three straight points to cut the deficit to two, however, they would not get any closer as Augie held on to take the set 25-22.
With their backs against the wall, North Park found themselves tied with Augie at nine each midway through the fourth set. Five straight points including an ace by Quinn Robinson gave NPU a 14-9 advantage. Augustana would find a run of their own to take a 22-21 lead late. Erik Bullard got a kill to knot the game up, but three straight points by Augustana finished off the set and the match as Augustana won by a score of 3-1.
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What's Next?
North Park (5-1) will head to Iowa later this week for a clash against CCIW foe Loras College (2-2) on Friday, February 26th. That match will start at 7 p.m. at Lillis Court.
