SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Augustana volleyball opens up their 2019 season at the Loper Pre-Season Invitational in Kearney, Nebraska, on Friday at 10 a.m. against Oklahoma Baptist. Later in the day, the Vikings take on Findlay at 2 p.m. to wrap up day one. Augustana opens the final day of the invitational at 2 p.m. against Adams State before facing off against No. 11 Nebraska-Kearney at 6 p.m. to close out the action in Kearney. 

The Games
Three of the four opponents the Vikings will face this weekend will be the first in program history. Nebraska-Kearney is the only familiar opponent for Augustana. There will be an all-tourney team announced on Monday and a team champion determined by the team's overall match record.

The Bison 
OBU returns 10 players from last season in which they went 16-17 during the 2018 campaign. With a 9-7 mark in conference play, the Bison finished sixth in the Great American Conference standings. OBU and Augie both open each other's 2019 schedules. 

The Bison added nine new freshmen this season. They join 10 returners from last season, including Malia Leatherland who earned All-GAC Second Team honors. Leatherland was second on the team, and sixth in the GAC, with an average of 3.30 kills/set.

The Oilers 
Findlay returns 13 players from last season in which they went 24-7 during the 2018 campaign. With a 16-3 mark in conference play, the Oilers finished second in the west division of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. The Oilers added six new freshmen this season. They join 13 returners from last season, that includes senior Shelby Kin who returns after recording 308 kills last season (2.99 kills/set).

The Grizzlies
Adams State returns six players from last season in which they went 12-14 during the 2018 campaign. With a 9-9 mark in conference play, the Grizzlies finished ninth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. 

The Grizzlies added eight new freshmen this season. They join six returners from last season, including junior middle hitter Shannon Mulkey who earned All-RMAC honorable mention honors. She totaled 276 kills which resulted in  2.76 kills/set both were second on the team. She led the front line with 72 total blocks.

The Lopers
Nebraska-Kearney and Augustana are tied with a 7-7 record all-time. 

UNK returns 15 players from last season in which they went 33-3 during the 2018 campaign and finished 12th in the final AVCA poll. With a 16-2 mark in conference play, the Lopers finished first in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. UNK won the MIAA regular season and tournament title in 2018. 

The Lopers added nine new freshmen this season who join the 15 returners. Included in the 15 returners senior outside hitter Julianne Jackson earned All-MIAA First Team honors. She was second in both kills (295) and digs (512). She recorded a double-digit dig total 28 times.

The Vikings
Augustana enters the 2019 season with nine players from last year's 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). Jen Jacobs returns for her third season as head coach of the Vikings with a 33-27 record at Augie. 

Junior Payton Rosendahl returns after a successful sophomore season in which she played in 27 sets this past year. She collected 135 kills over the course of the season for an attacking percentage of .193. On the defensive side of things she had 40 digs and had 22 block assists. She had a season-high 13 kills against Concordia St. Paul which is one kill off tying her career-high of 14, set twice in 2017. 

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

"We are excited to get the 2019 campaign started," head coach Jennifer Jacobs said. "The team has worked really hard in the gym this week and we got a chance to see a little bit of Kearney already this past weekend at a scrimmage which was beneficial for our team. Additionally, we will see two in-region opponents and it will be great competition!"

Who to Watch For
Grace Haberland enters the season on the NSIC's Players to Watch list. The sophomore appeared in 25 matches last season and compiled 144 kills (1.73/set) over the season. On the defensive side, she had 95 digs (1.14/set) and 18 total blocks. During conference action, she had 84 kills, 42 digs and 11 blocks. 

One Last Thing
When the Vikings face off against No. 11 Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday night, the Lopers will be one of five Augie opponents ranked in the AVCA Preseason top-15. The Vikings have No. 5 Concordia-St. Paul, No. 6 Minnesota Duluth, No. 8 Northern State and No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State on their conference slate this season. Wayne State and Sioux Falls also received votes in the preseason poll. 

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