The Aurora University volleyball team traveled to Augustana College and the Viking Classic to open the 2014 season. The Spartans went 2-2 in the four game two-day tournament. AU freshman
Alexis Hammond was named to the All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of the Classic with the Spartans finishing fourth out of the eight team field.
AU opened up the tournament with a pair of losses at the hands of Hamline University (3-0 - 27-25, 25-20, 25-21) and No. 24 Cornell College (3-1 - 25-23, 22-25, 25-23, 25-23). The Spartans rebounded on day two with a pair of victories though as they knocked off Principia College (3-0 - 25-20; 25-18; 25-23) and Knox College (3-0 - 25-21; 25-16; 25-19).
Hammond led the Spartan offensive attack as the All-Tournament selection averaging 2.5 kills per set with a .229 hit percentage and added three blocks. Sophomore
Andrea Kappelman averaged 2.60 kills and 3.60 digs per set, sophomore
Katie Olsen led the team with 4.46 digs per set and senior setter
Lexi O'Boyle added 5.31 assists per set. Other top contributors included
Nicole Kirsner (2.57 kills per set),
Lindsey Wille (2.22 kills per set) and Peyton Mcenzie (2.20 kills per set).
Next action for the Spartan volleyball team comes on Friday, September 5 when they play in the North Park University Viking Classic. AU takes on Central College (4:00 p.m.) and North Park University (6:00 p.m.) in Chicago, Illinois.