SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Augustana volleyball program will open up its home portion of the 2019 season on Friday. The Vikings will host UMary on Friday at 6 p.m. and Minot State at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The Matches
After being on the road for every match to start the season, Augustana will finally host a pair of matches this weekend. 

UMary (1-9, 0-2 NSIC)
The Marauders opened the conference season hosting No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State and No. 19 Sioux Falls last week. UMary will travel for the first time this conference season when it faces Augustana and No. 17 Wayne State. 

The Marauders are led by Morgan Schnabel who averages 3.45 kills per set and 2.47 digs per set. Sydney Murphy has compiled 8.66 assists per set which ranks 11th in the conference. Defensively, Natalia Cruz averages 3.32 digs per set and Hannah Hanson has recorded 0.78 blocks per set. 

The Vikings hold a 17-0 record against UMary and are 8-0 while playing in the Elmen Center.

Minot State (0-10, 0-2 NSIC)
The Beavers opened the conference season hosting No. 19 Sioux Falls and No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State last week. Minot State will open up its road portion of the conference season when it travels to Wayne State and Augustana. 

The Beavers are led by Shelby Spuller with 2.58 kills per set and 1.09 digs per set. Mackenzie Froehlich leads the team with 6.88 assists per set and also averages 2.92 digs per set. Defensively, Karli Koza leads the team with 3.27 digs per set and Hayley Swain has a team-high 28 blocks (0.85 b/s).

The Vikings hold a 11-0 record against Minot State and are 5-0 inside the Elmen Center. 

The Vikings
Augustana is coming off a midweek nonconference match against No. 17 Wayne State. 

Sophomore Avery Thorson recorded her fifth double-double against the Wildcats when she recorded 35 assists and 10 digs. Thorson averages 10.2 assists per set which ranks sixth in the NSIC and 32nd in the nation. Sophomore Grace Haberland led the Vikings with 12 kills against the Wildcats and now averages 2.7 kills on the team. 

Freshmen Maddy Guetter and Erika Bute have had a hot start to their Viking careers. Guetter has recorded double-digit kills in eight of the 11 matches this season. She leads the team with 3.28 kills per set while Bute leads the team with 6.15 digs per set and ranks second
in the NSIC and 11th in the nation. 

One Last Thing
Augustana has four players ranked in the top-10 statistically in the NSIC. Bute is ranked second with 6.15 digs per set, Thorson is ranked sixth with 10.2 assists and Sophia Terwilleger is ranked seventh with 0.42 aces per set. Abby Benson is ranked seventh with 1.07 blocks per set.