SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Following a successful start to the season, the Augustana volleyball team will begin conference play Friday and Saturday. The Vikings (7-1) will travel to Aberdeen, South Dakota, to take on the No. 8 Northern State Wolves on Friday at 6 p.m. and then will finish the weekend in Moorhead, Minnesota, when it faces MSU Moorhead at 2 p.m. 

The Games
Augustana will look to build off a 7-1 record that compiled after competing in the Loper Pre-Season Invite and the Emerald Beach Hotel Javelina Tournament. This will be the second out of three years under head coach Jennifer Jacobs that the Vikings will open up conference against a top-10 ranked opponent.

The Wolves (7-1, 0-0 NSIC) 
Northern State earned 780 points in the latest AVCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll which puts it at No. 8 behind fellow NSIC members Concordia-St. Paul (T6th) and Minnesota Duluth (4th) and one ahead of another NSIC member, Southwest Minnesota State. 

The Wolves are led by redshirt-senior Ashley Rozell, who leads them in attacking percentage (.523), assists per set (12.35) and service aces (8). Sophomore Sally Gaul leads the charge with 4.37 kills per set on the season while senior Jaiden Langlie leads them on the defensive side of things with 4.33 digs per set. 

As a team, Northern State has a .331 attacking percentage, has totaled 404 kills (15 k/set) and averaged 13.7 assists per set. On the defensive side of things, the Wolves average 13.2 digs per set and recorded 55 total blocks (2.0 b/set). 

The Vikings hold a 23-11-2 record overall and a 9-3 record in Aberdeen. The last meeting between Augustana and the Wolves came on Oct. 13, 2018, when No. 2 NSU defeated Augustana 3-1. 

Minnesota State Moorhead (5-3, 0-0 NSIC) 
The Dragons finished last season 11-16 overall and 7-13 in the conference. This season so far they have competed in two tournaments, the Rebich Investments Tournament and the UINDY Invite. MSUM will open up conference play against No. 20 Wayne State on Friday before hosting Augustana at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Nemzek Fieldhouse. 

The Dragons are led by sophomore Sarah Petrbok in kills/set (2.34) and services aces (13) and senior Kaylyn Jenkins in attacking percentage (.331) and blocks per set (1.03). Freshman Amber Bretwisch leads the team in assists with 6.21 per set and senior Taylor Thorson leads them on defense with 3.41 digs per set. 

As a team, MSUM is attacking at a .199 clip, has averaged 10.8 kills per set and recorded 9.9 assists per set. On the defensive side, the Dragons average 13.1 digs per set and have totaled 63 blocks this season. 

The Vikings hold a 22-7 record against the Dragons and a 7-2 record in Moorhead. The last meeting between the two programs happened on Oct. 12, 2018, when Augustana defeated MSUM 3-1. 

The Vikings 
Augustana is coming off a successful non-conference slate where they went 7-1, including a perfect 4-0 record at the Emerald Beach Hotel Javelina Tournament in Kingsville, Texas. Sophomore Avery Thorson was named to the All-Tournament team for the second time this season after averaging 10.07 assists per set and totaling 141 assists. The Sioux Falls, South Dakota, native, also averaged 3.21 digs per set and totaled 45 digs in Texas. 

Sophomore Abby Benson leads the team with 20 total blocks on the season. Benson blew her season-high stats out of the water against St. Edward's recording 10 kills on a .450 attacking percentage and recorded four total blocks in the win. 

Sophomore Grace Haberland hasn't disappointed after being named to the NSIC Player to Watch list at the beginning of the season. The Parker, Colorado, native, has totaled three double-doubles so far this season and averages 2.86 kills per set as well as 2.75 digs per set. 

As a team, the Vikings have averaged 13.8 kills per set, 12.8 assists pet set and have an attacking percentage of .235. On the defensive side, Augustana ranks second in the NSIC with 19.75 digs per set and 11th in the nation. The Vikings also rank 19th in the nation with 553 total digs. 

One Last Thing
The Viking's freshmen have been nothing but stellar so far this season. Maddy Guetter currently leads the team with 84 total kills (3 kills/set) and ranks 20th in the NSIC in kills. The Wabasso, Minnesota, native has recorded double-digit kills in six of the eight matches this season. Erika Bute leads the team with 186 total digs and recorded a team-high 36 digs against Adams State earlier this season. The Alden, Minnesota, native, ranks fifth in the nation in digs per set with 6.64 and second in the NSIC. Bute earned a spot on the Loper Pre-Season Invite All-Tournament Team.