SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Augustana volleyball team kicks off its season by heading to the southeast corner of the country to compete in the Tampa Volleyball Classic hosted by the University of Tampa in Tampa, Florida. 

The first match will be against No. 17 Northwest Missouri State on Friday at 11:45 a.m. Later that evening, the Vikings will face No. 5 Tampa, slated for 7:30 p.m. Augustana returns for day two of the tournament facing Ashland on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. and rounding out the competition facing Illinois Springfield at 4:15 p.m. 

Fans can catch all the action on GoAugie.com/Live and on the GoAugie app.

About the Bearcats 
Northwest is ranked No. 17 in the AVCA Top-25 poll and was tabbed to finish third in the MIAA preseason coaches' poll. The Bearcats posted a 14-3 mark this past spring during an abbreviated schedule of MIAA foes.

About the Spartans
The Spartans are ranked No. 5 in the AVCA Top-25 poll and favorites in the Sunshine State Conference preseason coaches' poll. Tampa returns 11 players from last year's squad, six of whom played on the 2018 National Championship team. 

About the Eagles
Ashland was tabbed third in the Great Midwest preseason coaches' poll receiving one first-place vote. The Eagles had all seven starters named to the All-GLIAC teams in the 2019 season and return Zoey Peck who was the AVCA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year in 2018 and has twice been named to the All-GLIAC squads.

About the Prairie Stars
UIS was tabbed fifth in the GLVC East Division in the GLVC preseason coaches poll. The Prairie Stars return every player from last year's roster except for two, while welcoming four newcomers. UIS is led by two-time all-GLVC performer Brianna Bush and 2019 all-GLVC setter Becca Blakeley. 

About the Vikings
Augustana, tabbed eighth in the NSIC preseason coaches' poll, returns nine student-athletes from the 2019 season where the Vikings posted a 20-10 record. Among the returners are juniors Erika Bute and Maddy Guetter. In 2019, Bute was a two-time NSIC Defensive Player of the Week, leading the team with 583 total digs and finished second in the conference with 5.40 digs per set. Guetter led the Vikings in kills in the 2019 season with a 2.91 kill per set average. 

The Vikings had a chance to begin its season in exhibition form in late August as AU hosted South Dakota State. In the contest, AU claimed a 3-1 victory in the exhibition to get the season started off on a strong note. 

One Last Thing
It's been 650 days since the Vikings last competed on Nov. 22, 2019. That was when the Vikings' season came to a conclusion in the NSIC Tournament.