SIOUX FALLS, S.D.-- The Augustana volleyball team (5-9 overall, 2-4 NSIC) return to the Elmen Center, hosting Minnesota Crookston on Friday at 6 p.m., before welcoming Bemidji State at 5 p.m., on Saturday. 

The Augustana community is invited to the Beer Garden — hosted by JJ's Wine, Spirits & Cigars — at the Elmen Center for both Friday and Saturday's games. The pub will be available in between the Viking Football and Volleyball matches. 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 Golden Eagles
Minnesota Crookston is 3-11 overall and 1-5 in NSIC play this season after falling in their last two matches to Sioux Falls and St. Cloud State. Kailee Waasdorp ranks fifth in the NSIC with 4.86 digs per set, and Madison Carsten leads the offense with 119 kills.

The Beavers
Bemidji State enters the weekend 6-8 overall and 3-3 in conference action following losses to Sioux Falls and Minnesota Duluth. The team is one of the best at the service line, ranking 35th in the country and first in the NSIC with 2.06 aces per set. They also have the top two in the NSIC in service aces, as Ashley Crowl (0.59) ranks 16th in the country, and Hallie Mertz ranks 31st (0.56). 

The Vikings
Augustana dropped a nail-biter in four sets to No. 8-ranked Southwest Minnesota State on Tuesday. The Vikings dropped a pair of sets by two points and won the second set to stay in the match. Kia Kriener ended the match with 21 kills to lead the offense. Reagan Jansen turned in another double-double, going for 11 kills and 13 digs, and Callie Hohenhaus added eight kills and five blocks. Maya Wente chipped in with seven kills and five blocks of her own. Four Vikings tallied double-digit digs, with Erika Bute (22), Lucy Bartee (15), and Ellie Walker (13) joining Jansen. Bartee paced the offense with 41 assists. 

On the season, Kriener leads the Vikings with 199 kills, while Jansen follows with 126 kills and 112 digs, both good for second on the team. She also is tied for the team lead with 19 aces. Bute leads the team with 293 digs, including 5.43 digs per set.

Also excelling on the front line are Wente (100 kills, 51 blocks) and Hohenhaus (104 kills, 43 blocks).

Lucy Bartee has put together an all-around contribution, adding 529 assists, 112 digs, 29 kills, 20 blocks, and 15 aces. Franke and Walker have each produced on the back line, as Franke has tallied 98 digs and 19 aces, while Walker has collected 90 digs and 14 aces. 

One Last Thing
Erika Bute's 5.43 digs per set are good for 14th in the country, while her 293 total digs rank 19th. Also in the top 50 is Lucy Bartee, whose 9.80 assists per set rank 41st, and Kia Kriener, who ranks 48th with 3.69 kills per set. 

Looking Ahead
The Vikings host The No. 1-ranked Wayne State Wildcats at 6 p.m., on Thursday, Oct. 12.