SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – After dropping its last three contests – each of which were five-set thrillers - the 12th-ranked Augustana volleyball team looks to get back on track with two road matches versus NSIC foes St. Cloud State on Friday and sixth-ranked Minnesota Duluth on Saturday.

The Vikings (8-4, 0-3) are ranked atop of the conference in total team attacks (1,582), and are ranked second in team total blocks (97.5), team kills (569) and team assists (524).

Libero Tahlyr Banks' 1,992 digs is second all-time in Augustana volleyball history. The senior from Omaha, Neb. is 13 digs away from breaking Abby Schmidt's (2003-06) all-time record with 2,004 digs in a career.  Banks' 194 digs during the 2017 season currently ranks fourth in the conference.

Junior Courtney Place ranks second in the NSIC in total attacks. The outside hitter from Okabena, Minn. has 424 attacks on the season. Lauren Waite's 354 attacks ranks eighth in the NSIC. Place's 144 blocks places her fourth in the conference.

Ashley Wilson's 47 total blocks ranks second in the NSIC. The Sioux Falls, S.D. native trails Wayne State's Jaci Brahmer (50) by just three blocks for the conference lead.

For the second match in a row, senior setter Alex Banker set a new career-high in assists. The Omaha, Neb. native accounted for 56 assists and 17 digs at Wayne State last Tuesday night. Banker ranks third in the NSIC with 452 assists.

The Huskies, who are (9-3, 2-1) on the season are holding opponents to a 0.158 hitting percentage which ranks fifth in the NSIC. Helping the cause is sophomore Clara Krenz, who's 222 digs on the season ranks first in the conference and 22nd in the nation.

With 69, St. Cloud State has accounted for the most service aces in the NSIC. Senior outside hitter Nicole Miller's 16 aces currently ranks seventh in the conference.

The Huskies rank fourth in the NSIC with 543 kills. Leading the way for St. Cloud State is senior right side hitter Becca Gruber, who's tallied 118 kills – good enough for 12th in the conference.

St. Cloud's two NSIC wins came with a four set victory over Bemidji State and a sweep of University of Minnesota, Crookston.

Ranked sixth in the nation and riding a seven match win streak, Minnesota Duluth (10-1, 3-0) is firing on all cylinders. All seven matches during the streak have occurred in straight sets, including a sweep over St. Cloud in Duluth last Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs lead the country with a 0.341 hitting percentage and have three players hitting above .300 on the season, including the NSIC leader in junior Sarah Kelly. The right side hitter is hitting .513 on the year, trailing only Kristina Filimonova (0.543) from Barry for the best in the nation. St. Cloud State's opponent hitting percentage (0.154) ranks third in the conference.

Augustana is (45-21) all-time against St. Cloud State and has won 28 of its last 30 matches against the Huskies.  Augustana defeated St. Cloud State in straight sets in 2016 at the Elmen Center.

The Vikings are (10-32) all-time against Minnesota Duluth, with the Bulldogs taking four of-the-last five from Augustana. The Vikings took down Duluth when the Bulldogs were ranked number one in the country last season inside the Elmen Center in four sets.