SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Augustana volleyball team (7-9 overall, 4-4 NSIC) returns to the gym this week, welcoming No. 1-ranked Wayne State to the Elmen Center at 6 p.m., before heading two blocks north to the Stewart Center, facing off at Sioux Falls at 2 p.m., on Saturday.

Thursday's match will also be a white out. The first 100 Augustana students will receive a free t-shirt, and gift cards will be handed out during timeouts and in-between sets. 

The Augustana community is invited to the Beer Garden — hosted by JJ's Wine, Spirits & Cigars — at the Elmen Center for Thursday's games. Food, such as pulled pork nachos and corn dogs, will be available for purchase in the concession area next to the Beer Garden. 

Complete action can be followed on GoAugie.com/Live and the GoAugie app, presented by The Original Pancake House. The app can be downloaded in the App Store or Google Play.

The Wildcats
Wayne State received 1,171 points in the AVCA poll and earned 43 of 47 first-place votes. The Wildcats are 17-1 overall and 8-0 in NSIC play this season after defeating Winona State, Bemidji State, and Minnesota Crookston last week. WSC leads the country in hitting percentage and ranks top 20 in blocks per set and assists per set. The Wildcats have a pair of AVCA All-Americans on their front line, as Maggie Brahmer (.450 hitting percentage, 3.80 kills per set, 1.07 blocks per set) and Taya Beller (.355 hitting percentage, 3.44 kills per set, 1.07 blocks per set) both find themselves in the top 60 nationally in most categories. 

The Cougars
Sioux Falls enters the weekend 6-10 overall and 2-6 in conference action following losses to Concordia-St. Paul, Minnesota Duluth, and St. Cloud State last week. The team is one of the best at front line defense, ranking 18th in the country and second in the NSIC with 2.34 blocks per set. Sadie Voss leads the offense with 208 kills and ranks second with 143 digs. Jordyn Hamm holds down the net for USF, leading the way with 60 total blocks and 1.05 blocks per set. 

The Vikings
Augustana earned a weekend sweep, defeating Minnesota Crookston on Friday and Bemidji Stats on Saturday. On Friday night, Maya Wente had it rolling offensively, tallying 16 kills while hitting .519 to fuel the Vikings. Reagan Jansen collected nine kills, and Piper Asche, Callie Hohenhaus, and Kia Kriener each recorded six kills. 

Erika Bute dug out 17 attacks, while Lucy Bartee added 10 digs to lead the defense. Bartee also added 45 assists, a pair of blocks, and a kill. AU played a season-high 14 players in the match, with 13 recording either a kill or a dig. 

The highlight of Saturday night was Bute, who collected a team-high 16 digs, including her 2,000th career dig. She became the third player in program history to reach the milestone, and now ranks in a tie for second with 2,004. 

Kriener was one of three players with double digit kills on the night, tallying 13 while adding two blocks. Hohenhaus totaled 12 kills and five blocks, and Jansen added 11 kills and 12 digs. Bartee had 41 assists and three aces from the setter position, and Franke had 12 digs to support the back line. 

On the season, Kriener leads the Vikings with 218 kills, while Jansen follows with 141 kills and 127 digs. She also is tied for the team lead with 22 aces. Bute leads the team with 326 digs, including 5.34 digs per set.

Also excelling on the front line are Wente (124 kills, 54 blocks) and Hohenhaus (122 kills, 50 blocks).

Lucy Bartee has put together an all-around contribution, adding 615 assists, 128 digs, 32 kills, 24 blocks, and 19 aces. Franke and Walker have each produced on the back line, as Franke has tallied 118 digs and 22 aces, while Walker has collected 98 digs and 18 aces. 

One Last Thing
Erika Bute's 5.34 digs per set are good for 15th in the country, while her 326 total digs rank 24th. Also in the top 50 is Lucy Bartee, whose 10.08 assists per set rank 33rd, and Kia Kriener, who ranks 50th with 3.69 kills per set. 

Looking Ahead
The Vikings head to North Dakota, first to Bismarck for a 6 p.m. Friday match against UMary, then a Saturday match at Minot State at 10 a.m.