Augustana University Athletics

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Augustana hits the road for their third straight weekend, this time to Storm Lake, Iowa for an afternoon doubleheader on Saturday, Feb.1 5. The Vikings (0-3) take on University of Dubuque (0-1) at 1 p.m. before facing Buena Vista (0-2) at 5 p.m. in the Lamberti Recreation Center.

Second serve
Augustana hits the road again, heading to Hastings, Neb. to take on Hastings College in a 2 p.m. dual on Saturday, Feb. 22.

Vikings edged in two road matches
Augustana tripped to Owatonna, Minn. last weekend, but fell in a pair of matches on Saturday evening. Jared Hofer and Colan Surratt were the only two Vikings to collect victories in a 7-2 loss to Saint John's (Minn.). Hofer and No. 1 doubles partner Jackson Buchanan were upended in a tiebreaker in the top doubles match. The Vikings nearly came away with their first win of the season against Grinnell College, but were hamstringed by a pair of forfeits. Hofer teamed with Collin Noldner and Buchanan played with Brock Baade as both doubles teams collected wins. With a 2-1 lead after doubles -- the Vikings forfeited the No. 3 doubles match -- Augustana took two singles matches, but couldn't collect that elusive fifth win to secure the team victory. Hofer and Buchanan each won in straight sets, but Noldner, Surratt, and Baade were unable to grab their own victory and Grinnell earned the decisive match win with a No. 6 singles forfeit.

Scouting the Spartans
Dubuque University, located in Dubuque, Iowa, is 0-1 on the season, losing their season-opener to St. Ambrose University, 5-4. Top singles player Nick Garcia leads the Spartans and he proved it, rolling his first opponent 6-0, 6-0 to open the season. Garcia and teammate Dishon Deering compose the top doubles pairing. The Spartans will take on Buena Vista at 9 a.m. before their 1 p.m. date with the Vikings.

Bring on the Beavers
Augustana has reeled off three straight wins over Buena Vista and they hope to make it four consecutive victories on Saturday. BVU enters the weekend with a 0-2 record and they will face Dubuque in the 9 a.m. match before DU squares off with the Vikings. The Beavers' Nos. 3 and 4 singles players supplied the wins in their season opener, but BVU hasn't experienced much success early in 2014. Last season, Jared Hofer and Jackson Buchanan won their No. 2 doubles match and Hofer earned a singles win, playing at the fourth flight. Brock Baade was part of an exciting 9-7 win at the No. 3 doubles spot while three more Vikings added singles wins to secure the 6-3 victory.

Hofer off to a hot start
Despite three losses for the team, Jared Hofer has been a rock at the No. 1 singles and doubles positions. Posting a 3-0 record in singles, Hofer has won all three matches in straight sets. Facing old high school rival Elliott Czarnecki against Grinnell College, Hofer earned a tough win 6-3, 7-6. Against Saint. John's (Minn.), Hofer convincingly put away the top Johnnies singles player, 6-2, 6-1 to stay undefeated on the season.

In doubles, Hofer owns a 2-1 record, losing his only match in a tiebreaker. Hofer has played two matches with Jackson Buchanan, collecting a 1-1 record, and is 1-0 while playing with Collin Noldner. Last season, Hofer put together an 8-2 record in singles play last season, playing Nos. 3 and 4, but has transitioned nearly seamlessly to the top spot on the 2014 squad.

Young Vikings return with experience
Augustana welcomes back five athletes from last year's squad that gained valuable experience in either their freshman or sophomore seasons. Collin Noldner returns for his junior season as Augustana's top player after playing No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles last season. Noldner posted a 10-4 singles mark at his second-flight position. Sophomore Jared Hofer played No. 4 singles but had a strong fall at the ITA Central Region Championships and looks to take over the No. 2 spot. Hofer logged an 8-2 record in singles, including a 2-0 mark at No. 3.

Jackson Buchanan played No. 3 after Hofer was moved down to the fourth spot, finishing with a 4-6 singles record last season. Playing with Hofer at No. 2 doubles, Buchanan owned a 6-5 doubles mark. Brock Baade split his two singles matches, and finished with an even 4-4 record at No. 3 doubles. Colan Surratt will be looking to bounce back from a 3-6 year at No. 5 singles. The Vikings all return one year wiser and can look forward to adding a new piece to their team.

New face in the crowd
Augustana welcomes Evan Richards of Le Mars, Iowa to the 2014 roster. Richards is a two-time letterwinner at Le Mars County High School and was named All-Conference as a senior. In his senior season, Richards advanced to the Iowa State Tournament after advancing to sub-state as a sophomore.

Leading the charge
Head coach Marc Kurtz is in his 10th season at the helm of the Augustana men's tennis program. Under Kurtz, the Vikings have a 36-83 record since 2005. The Vikings' winning percentage of .455 last season was the highest of his tenure. The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference does not sponsor men's tennis.