Rock Island, Ill. - The Wheaton volleyball team (10-14, 0-5 CCIW) traveled to Augustana (13-11, 3-3 CCIW) Tuesday evening for a CCIW matchup with the Vikings. Augustana topped the Thunder, 3-1 (25-22, 19-25, 25-23, 25-21) inside the Carver PE Center.

Freshmen Audrey Gerze and Colleen Smith each led the Thunder with 10 kills. Madeline Moore and Deborah Smith each tallied eight kills for the Thunder with Ellie Brown adding seven. Kelly Thornton registered 22 assists and Alecia Funk added 17 assists, with two service aces. Jess Bosse had a team-high 31 digs in the match and Thornton had 19 digs.

Grace Bialobok and Sierra Erke each had 16 kills for the Vikings. Olivia Doak had a team-high 27 assists and Madi Glatz added 25 digs for the hosts.

Augustana won first set 25-22. The Vikings early in the set, holding a 9-4 lead. Wheaton gradually cut into the Vikings' lead as Wheaton gained its first lead at 17-16. The Thunder held a 21-19 lead on a kill by Ellie Brown. The Vikings responded with four-consecutive points to gain a 23-21 lead. An Augustana service error gave Wheaton a point that cut the hosts' lead to 23-22. Vikings' kills on each of the next two points gave Augustana the 25-22 lead and the victory in the opening set.

The Thunder won the second set 25-19. The set was tied 4-4 when Thunder responded with an 8-3 run to lead the set 12-7. The Vikings worked to tie the set at 15-15 when Wheaton responded with a 10-4 surge to win the set 25-19.

Augustana gained a 2-1 lead in the match score with a 25-23 victory in the third set. Augustana led 6-2 early in the set, but Wheaton responded with six-consecutive points to give the Thunder an 8-6 lead in the set. Wheaton's 6-0 run featured a pair of service aces by Funk. Wheaton led 23-19 when the Vikings responded with six-consecutive points to close out the set with a 25-23 victory.

The Vikings defeated Wheaton 25-21 in the decisive fourth set. Augustana jumped out to an 11-4 victory in the set. Wheaton responded with an impressive 11-3 run to give the Thunder a 15-14 lead. Wheaton led 19-18 when the Vikings tallied six-consecutive points as the hosts led 24-19. A kill by Ellie Brown highlighted two-consecutive points for the Thunder to trim the Vikings' lead to 24-21. Augustana's Brooke Harmon registered a kill to close out the set and the match as the hosts won the set 25-21.

Wheaton returns home tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. for a non-conference match against Loras in King Arena. The Thunder program will honor its seniors on Wednesday prior to the match for the team's "Senior Night" activities.