SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana football and volleyball programs will hold their annual media day Wednesday, Aug. 25, at Kirkeby-Over Stadium and the Elmen Center. Members are invited to talk with players and coaches from the Viking football team from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. and then move to the Elmen Center, where coaches and players from the volleyball team will be available from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. The Viking volleyball squad will scrimmage Dordt (Iowa) at 5 p.m.
The Augustana football team, which received votes in the American Football Coaches Association Preseason Poll, opens practice for the 2010 campaign on Saturday. First-year head coach Mike Aldrich expects to welcome just under 100 student-athletes to campus.
Augustana returns nine all-conference performers from last season's 8-4 (7-3 NSIC) team. Senior runningback
Joe Clark, senior wide receiver
Tyler Schulte, junior wide receiver
Sam Holsen and senior offensive lineman
Tyler Lynch highlight the Vikings' experienced offensive corps. The defense is anchored by a host of veteran personnel in junior defensive linemen
Brady MacIver and
Eric Bergman, senior linebackers
Chris Janisch and
Andrew Keel and junior defensive back
Nick Andreas.
Augustana opens the 2010 season on Sept. 4 when the Vikings host St. Cloud State in a non-conference contest at 1 p.m.
Augustana volleyball reports for practice on Aug. 16.
Head coach
Ashley Buckley returns for her third season as the leader of Augustana volleyball. Last season, she guided the Vikings to a 14-18 overall record and a seventh-place finish in the conference standings with a 9-11 mark in NSIC play.
The Vikings return five starters from last season's team, including All-NSIC honorable selection
Grace Sanders (Lakeville, Minn.). The sophomore libero dug up a team-best 514 balls last season. Senior middle blocker
Brianna Erickson (Gurnee, Ill.) is also back and coming off a 103-block season in 2009. The front row also welcomes back sophomore outside hitter
Megan Bezdicek (Jackson, Minn.), who recorded 217 kills last season. Sophomore outside hitter
Jordan Spatenka (Owatonna, Minn.), who charted 154 kills last year, rounds out a solid corps of returning hitters for the Vikings.
A strong recruiting class enters in 2010, including 5-foot-9 setter/defensive specialist
Kayla Wallerich (Marshall, Minn.), 5-foot-6 defensive specialist
Christine Bielski (Chaska, Minn.), 6-foot-2 middle blocker
Holly Hafemeyer (Fairbault, Minn.) and 5-foot-10 outside hitter
Lindsey Petersen (Elkhart, Iowa).
Augustana opens the 2010 season on Sept. 3 when the Vikings travel to the Oredigger Classic in Golden, Colo., for four matches. The Vikings' first conference match is at home on Sept. 17 against Upper Iowa.
