MATCH NOTES PDF
This week: The Augustana volleyball team (4-5, 0-0 NSIC) hosts Upper Iowa (2-7, 0-1 NSIC) on Friday at 7 p.m. and Winona State (5-4, 0-1 NSIC) on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. for the Vikings' first home matches of the season. This weekend's matches also mark the start of conference competition for Augustana.
Series records: Augustana leads the series record against Upper Iowa 2-0. In the Vikings' first meeting against UIU, Augustana won 3-0 in a home match on Oct. 17, 2008. The next meeting occurred on Oct. 16, 2009, in Fayette, Iowa, and resulted in a 3-2 victory for the Vikings. Augustana has faced Winona State 17 times, with the first match up dating back to 1979. Augustana leads the series 16-1, only falling to the Warriors during the first meeting.
Last week: After falling to Nebraska-Kearney (3-0) last Wednesday, the Vikings found success over the weekend at the Middle of Everywhere Classic in Rolla, Mo., finishing the tournament 3-1. Augustana went on a winning streak in Missouri, beating Chadron State (3-0), Southeastern Oklahoma State (3-0) and Arkansas-Monticello (3-0) before Rockhurst defeated the Vikings 3-0 in the final match.
Settin it up: Sophomore setter
Dani Haley (Owatonna, Minn.) was named to the Middle of Everywhere Classic All-Classic Team after her outstanding performance last weekend in Rolla, Mo. Haley dished out 135 assists in the four matches, totaling 11.25 assists per set. The sophomore also tallied 10 kills, 23 digs and two service aces.
Leave it to the libero: Grace Sanders (Lakeville, Minn.) was another Viking to have a stellar performance during last week's five match series. Sanders totaled 86 digs (5.73 per set) and is currently leading Augustana in service aces after smashing eight last week, bringing her total to nine. Sanders had her best performance last week against Rockhurst when she tallied 22 digs. The star libero also tallied at least 14 digs in every match.
The Petersen attack: Outside hitter
Lindsey Petersen (Elkhart, Iowa) stood out for the Vikings again last week, recording 48 kills in five matches (3.20 per set). Petersen had a .252 hitting percentage and had her best match against Arkansas-Monticello when she totaled a .500 hitting percentage with 14 kills. Other totals for Petersen last week include four service aces, 14 digs and two blocks.
Who's back: Lone senior
Brianna Erickson (Gurnee, Ill.) will help lead the Vikings through the 2010 season. Erickson captained the team in 2009 and was second on the team in blocks per set with 0.95 in 2009. Along with Erickson, Augustana returns eight players.
Who's new: The Vikings welcome four new faces to this season's roster. Christine Beliski (Chaska, Minn.),
Kayla Wallerich (Marshall, Minn.) and
Holly Hafemeyer (Fairbault, Minn.) are all Minnesota natives, while Lindsey Peterson (Elkhart, Iowa) comes to Augustana from Iowa.
Moving up: In 2009 Kasey Loeslie came to Augustana to work alongside head coach
Ashley Buckley as a graduate assistant coach. This season Loeslie is back to serve her first year as a full-time assistant coach for the Vikings.
Looking back: Last season, the Vikings finished seventh in the NSIC with a conference record of 9-11. Augustana's overall record for the 2009 season was 14-18 and marked the first time since 1995 that Augustana didn't make the NCAA tournament. Sophomore standout
Jordan Spatenka led the Vikings in kills last season with 23, while
Grace Sanders recorded team high 32 digs.
Dani Haley was first on the team in assists, tallying 50.
Coaches' corner: Ashley Buckley enters her third season as head coach and owns a career record of 41-34. She has guided the Viking to one NCAA?Tournament appearance and has coached three All-NSIC performers. Kasey Loeslie is in her second year as an assistant coach. Coaching along with Buckley and Loeslie is first year graduate assistant coach Lisa Hoegh.
Players to watch: Sophomore outside hitter
Jordan Spatenka was named a Preseason Player to Watch in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. She had 154 kills and 33 blocks last season.
History lesson: Augustana is in its 38th year of competition in 2010. The Vikings own an all-time record of 787-527-14. The Vikings have made 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, with the last one occurring in 2008.
What the coaches say: Augustana was picked to finish sixth in the conference by the 14 NSIC head coaches in their annual preseason poll. Augustana received 104 points in the poll. Concordia University, St. Paul's 11 first-place votes makes for the seventh consecutive season it has been selected as the top preseason team. Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State, Wayne State and Southwest Minnesota State came in ahead of the Vikings.
Team (first-place votes) Points
1. Concordia, St. Paul (11) 166
2. Minnesota Duluth (2) 147
3. Minnesota State (1) 142
4. Wayne State 136
5. Southwest Minnesota State 134
6. Augustana 104
7. MSU Moorhead 95
8. Winona State 76
9. Upper Iowa 73
10. Northern State 62
11. St. Cloud State 54
12. Bemidji State 41
13. Minnesota, Crookston 25
14. U-Mary 19
Stay connected:?Stay connected with Augustana volleyball all season long at www.GoAugie.com. The Vikings are also on Facebook and Twitter; just log onto www.facebook.com/GoAugie and www..twitter.com/GoAugie. To catch even more Viking action log onto Augustana's official YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/GoAugie.
Action packed: Live statistics of the games can be viewed by logging onto www.GoAugie.com/livestats.
Watch it: All NSIC volleyball matches will be webcast live and free of charge on the Penn Atlantic Network. Fans wanting to follow the action can go to the following link: www.pennatlantic.com.
Up next: After a weekend at home, the Vikings will travel to Bismark, N.D., for a 7 p.m. match against U-Mary on Friday. Saturday's competition will be against Northern State in Aberdeen, S.D., and is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
