BISMARCK, N.D. - Lauren Randall was everywhere on the court tonight, but she alone couldn't stop the #19 Vikings from sweeping the Marauders in straight sets.
 
U-Mary was in control early in the first set. After eight kills, one ace and a team block, the Marauders were up 10-4 causing Augustana to use their first timeout.
 
The Marauders kept the lead despite the loss of momentum after Augustana narrowed the gap to 14-13. U-Mary couldn't slow the Viking attack and Augustana eventually took over the lead with the 10-1 to go up 23-15. The Marauders wouldn't go quietly as they rebounded and narrowed the deficit to 23-19 after some solid defensive play forced the Vikings to use their second timeout. U-Mary couldn't maintain the pressure and dropped the first set 25-19.
 
The second set started out just like the first, with the Marauders out front 7-4 after Randall earned a block assist, two aces and a kill in a spectacular display of skill. Augustana regained the lead at 8-7 but the Marauders kept the pace up and took the lead back on a 7-3 run to go up 14-11, forcing Augustana to use another timeout.
 
The Vikings fought back but U-Mary was persistent and maintained the lead at 18-17. Then the errors started to set in and the Marauders lost the lead after four straight points to fall behind 21-18. From there, Augustana took over and closed out the second set 25-20.
 
The third set continued to be a battle between the two teams, as the Vikings jumped out to a 9-6 lead early in the set. Augustana extended the lead to 15-9, but the Marauders battled their way back into the set with a 4-1 run to narrow the lead at 16-13. The Vikings kept a comfortable cushion with a 7-1 run to widen the lead to 23-14, but the Marauders refused to quit and rallied off four straight points to close in at 23-18. Unfortunately it was too little too late as Augustana put U-Mary away for good and ended the game 25-19.
 
Randall led the Marauders with nine kills, 25 attacks, .240 attack percentage, three aces, 12 digs and two block assists. Randall was one kill shy of her third double-double. Janell Finkbeiner directed the offense and registered her seventh game with at least 20 assists as she finished with 21 assists and six digs. Lauren Boldt was active offensively with six kills, 18 attacks, five digs and two block assists. Paige Smith had a hand in the offense as well with six kills, 14 attacks, three digs and two block assists.
 
Alex Brown was solid defensively with 16 digs, four assists and one ace.
 
The Marauders (3-16, 0-10 NSIC) host MSU-Moorhead on Tuesday, Oct. 14 for their 2014 Make-a-Wish game.