BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- The Augustana Vikings volleyball program has been picked to finish 11th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) preseason coaches' poll tallying 78 points, the league office announced Monday. Northern State was picked to finish first with six first place points and 209 total points.

The Augustana Vikings volleyball team enters the 2019 season with nine players from last years team that went 10-18 overall and 5-15 in conference action. Of those nine returners, the Vikings return three stat leaders from last season's team in sophomores Avery Thorson (2.18 hit percentage & 962 assists) and Abby Benson (76 blocks, 0.80/set). Jennifer Jacobs returns for her third season as head coach of the Vikings with a 33-27 record at Augie. 

"We are excited to get the 2019 NSIC campaign going," Jacobs sad. "Every year each conference match is a dog fight and we are up for the challenge. Looking forward to seeing our fans in the stands!"

Augustana outside hitter Grace Haberland has been named to the NSIC Preseason Players to Watch list for the 2019 season. The sophomore appeared in 25 matches in her redshirt-freshman season compiling 144 kills (1.73/set) over the course of the season. Haberland finished the season with an attacking percentage of .186 in 83 sets played. On the defensive side, the Parker, Colo. native had 95 digs (1.14/set) and 18 total blocks. During NSIC action, Haberland had 84 kills (1.45/set) for an attacking percentage of .152. 

Six newcomers step onto the court for the first time as Vikings this next season as well as Jessica Simon returning from an injury that sidelined her during the 2018 season.

The Vikings will open the season at the Loper Pre-Season Invite on September 6 in Kearney, Neb. against Oklahoma Baptist at 10 a.m. They will then travel to Kingsville, Texas to compete in the Texas A&M Kingsville Invite on September 13-14 before starting up conference play at Northern State on Friday, September 20. 

Augustana's home opener will be Friday, Sept. 27 against U-Mary at 6 p.m. at the Elmen Center. The Vikings schedule has five opponents that made the 2018 NCAA DII Tournament in Nebraska-Kearney, Concordia St. Paul, Southwest Minnesota State, Minnesota Duluth and Northern State.

Tickets are available to purchase now for the 2019 volleyball season. To purchase tickets, call 877-GoAugie or click here.

Fans are also encouraged to support Augustana Athletics by joining the A-Club, helping to build champions in the classroom, in competition, and in the community. For more information on the A-Club and priority seating benefits for members, visit GoAugie.com/Aclub.

NSIC Volleyball
The 2019 NSIC Volleyball season will begin with non-conference matches on Thursday, September 5 while the NSIC schedule begins Friday, September 20.  The 2019 NSIC regular season champion will be determined by the 20-game conference schedule. The top eight teams will play in the single elimination NSIC Volleyball Tournament on November 22-24. All three rounds of the tournament will take place at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and aired live on MidcoSN.

2019 NSIC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll 

	Points
1. Northern State (6)	209
2. Concordia-St. Paul (5)	203
Minnesota Duluth (4)	203
4. Wayne State	178
5. Southwest Minnesota State (1)	170
6. Minnesota State	146
7. Winona State	135
8. St. Cloud State	126
9. Upper Iowa	125
10. Sioux Falls	114
11. Augustana	78
12. MSU Moorhead	76
13. Bemidji State	43
14. Minot State	42
15. Minnesota Crookston	38
16. University of Mary	34
first place votes in ( )