SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The nationally ranked Augustana volleyball team starts their 2017 regular season Friday, Sep. 1 at the Oredigger Classic in Golden, Colo. The Vikings square off with 15th ranked CSU San Bernardino and Regis on Friday before taking on Rollins College and Eastern New Mexico Saturday.

Augustana, ranked 10th in the AVCA preseason poll, is coming off a season in which they won 27 games in 2016 and made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008. The Vikings return 10 letter winners and five starters, including the 2016 Libero of the Year in Tahlyr Banks and first team All-NSIC members Bailey Koch and Courtney Place.

Jennifer Jacobs is entering her first season as the head coach for Augustana. Jacobs spent the last five seasons at Augsburg College where she served in various administration roles as well as an assistant volleyball coach. During her time at Augsburg, the volleyball program complied a 105-42 record, including back-to-back seasons of 20-plus wins in 2013 and 2014. Jacobs brings an extensive background in junior Olympics club volleyball and high school coaching.

The Vikings home opener is set for Wednesday, Sep. 6 against Texas A&M – Kingsville at 7:30 p.m. inside the Elmen Center. 
 

• CSUSB won its 12th California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) conference title in the last 16 years in 2016
• CSUSB is ranked 15th in the AVCA Preseason Poll
• CSUCB is the preseason favorite to win the CCAA in 2017
• The Coyotes return three All-CCAA performers from a year ago in senior OH Lauren Nicholson and juniors S Jayann DeHoog and MB Hailey Jackson
• CSUSB went 25-5 last season and earned the program's 17th straight NCAA Tournament berth
• Friday's match will be the first time Augustana and CSUSB will play each other 

About Regis

• Augustana owns a 4-3 all-time record in the series
• The last time they played, the Vikings defeated Regis 3-1 in Sioux Falls (25-18, 25-19, 16-25, 25-21) on August 27th 2009
• Regis finished the 2016 season with an 18-12 record
• The Rangers made the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive year in 2016
• Regis' head coach Joel List is entering his first year as the head coach for the Rangers after spending the least 14 years as an assistant coach
• The Rangers received one first place vote and were selected to finish sixth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC)
• Regis returns sophomore OH Kelsey Green who is the reigning RMAC Freshman of the Year
• Augustana has won four straight against Regis
• Regis lost eight players from last year's squad to graduation 

About Rollins College

• The Vikings and Rollins College have played once prior to Saturday's match. Augustana defeated Rollins College 3-0 (26-24, 26-24, 25-17) on August 30th, 2008 in San Antonio, Texas.
• Rollins finished 12-19 in 2016
• The Tars were selected to finish eighth in the Sunshine State Conference.
• Rollins graduated just two seniors from the 2016 team and welcome six new faces for their 2017 campaign 

About Eastern New Mexico

• Eastern New Mexico finished with a 19-13 record in 2016
• Augustana and Eastern New Mexico have played once prior to Saturday's match. The Vikings defeated ENMU 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-15) on August 29th, 2008 in San Antonio, Texas
• Eastern New Mexico won one match in the Lone Star Conference Tournament
• Senior libero Andrea Aguliar earned the Lone Stare Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year award