SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The 17th-ranked Augustana volleyball team hosts a pair of NSIC foes this weekend inside the Elmen Center. The Vikings (10-5, 1-4) host Bemidji State on Friday at 6 p.m. and Minnesota Crookston on Saturday at 5 p.m.

After picking up their first conference win on the road at St. Cloud State last weekend, Augustana looks to pick up their first conference win at home after dropping their conference home opener in a five-set battle to top-ranked Southwest Minnesota State.

Senior libero Tahlyr Banks became the Vikings all-time digs leader in Augustana's 3-1 win over St. Cloud State when she recorded 21 digs to break Abby Schmidt's record of 2,004. Banks currently has 2,055 digs in her career accumulating over 399 sets.

The Vikings dropped last Saturday's contest 3-1 on the road to sixth-ranked Minnesota Duluth, but regained momentum with a 3-0 victory over Black Hills State at home in a non-conference matchup Tuesday night. The sweep over Black Hills State was Augustana's fifth sweep of the season.
Augustana ranks atop of the NSIC in attacks, kills, assists and is second in the conference in total blocks. Junior Courtney Place has racked up 203 kills on 590 attacks. The Okabena, Minn. native has the third most kills and the second most attacks in the NSIC.

Helping the offense flourish, senior setter Alex Banker ranks third nationally and second in the conference with 630 assists. The Omaha, Neb. native set a career-high with 56 assists at Wayne State earlier this season.

Defensively, The Vikings middle blockers have been outstanding in 2017. The senior duo of Ashley Wilson and Bailey Koch each rank in the top-five in the conference in total blocks. Wilson has the second-most blocks in the NSIC with 54, while Koch is right behind her with 53 and ranks fourth in the conference.

Bemidji State (3-10, 0-5) is seeking their first conference win of the year. Sami Leach leads the Beavers in kills (89), hitting percentage (.225%) and assists (285). Emma Hallman leads the team with 159 digs (3.31 digs per set). Without a single senior on the team, and just four juniors, Bemidji State is one of the younger teams in the conference.

Augustana is (21-3) all-time vs. the Beavers. The Vikings have won nine in a row, and took last year's match (3-1) in Bemidji.

Minnesota Crookston (4-9, 1-4) is led by Kassi Green, who leads the Golden Eagles with 176 kills (3.91 K/Set) in 2017. Kaycie Hagen leads Minnesota Crookston with 366 assists and 8.32 A/Set. Becca Vandunheuvel has a .500 attack percentage in 45 sets played. 141 digs from Magg Perrel leads the team.

Augustana holds a (15-1) advantage over Minnesota Crookston. The Vikings have won the last four matches in a row – with three of the four coming in straight sets.