SIOUX FALLS, S.D.-- The Augustana volleyball team is set to take on the No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul to open up NSIC action. The match begins at 2 p.m., inside the Elmen Center.
 
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 Bears
No. 1-ranked Concordia-St. Paul is 9-0 on the season after defeating No. 6 St. Cloud State in a nonconference match on Tuesday inside the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul, Minn. The Golden Bears went 4-0 last weekend, topping then-No. 1 West Texas A&M and No. 3 Wayne State to win the Colorado Premier Challenge. CSP will take on Wayne State on Friday in Wayne, Neb., to open conference play before making their way to Sioux Falls.
 
Offensively, the Golden Bears are paced by reigning National Player of the Week Teagan Starkey, who leads the nation with 12.94 assists per set and 440 total assists. CSP touts a balanced attack, leading the country with 15 kills per set, but does not have a single player inside the top 50 nationally. Emma Schmidt has 128 digs to lead the defense.
 
The Vikings
Augustana earned its first wins of the season last weekend, defeating Illinois Springfield, Arkansas Monticello, and Ouachita Baptist to finish 3-1 at the Denton Volleyfest in Denton Texas.
 
Four Vikings earned All-Tournament honors after the successful weekend. Kia Kriener led the attack, delivering 56 kills on 3.29 kills per set. Callie Hohenhaus was a force on both sides of the net, delivering 36 kills and 11 blocks.
 
Lucy Bartee was the catalyst of the attack, picking up 166 assists while also adding 41 digs and 14 kills to cap her all-around performance. Erika Bute led all players with 82 digs and 4.82 digs per set to fuel the backline for the Vikings and round out the individual honors.
 
A pair of freshmen continued strong campaigns, as Maya Wente racked up 31 kills and 11 blocks, while Reagan Jansen pitched in with 44 kills and 35 digs. Ellie Walker and Kiylah Franke also had stellar performances on the backline, combining for 60 digs and 19 aces.
 
One Last Thing
Lucy Bartee's 311 assists are good for 19th in the country, while her 9.72 assists per set ranks 39th. Also in the top 50 is Erika Bute, ranking 16th with 153 digs and 50^th with 4.78 digs per set.
 
Looking Ahead
The Vikings continue conference action on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m., at Winona State before returning to the Elmen Center for a Saturday afternoon matchup with Minnesota State.

The Augustana community is invited to the Brew Pub — hosted by JJ's Wine, Spirits & Cigars — at the Elmen Center on Saturday, Sept. 23. 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 Brew Pub.