SIOUX FALLS, S.D.-- The Augustana volleyball team (4-7 overall, 1-2 NSIC) hits the road for a tough NSIC slate, traveling northeast to take on No. 10-ranked Minnesota Duluth on Friday at 5 p.m., before a 2 p.m., Saturday match against No. 6-ranked St. Cloud State. 

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 Bulldogs
Minnesota Duluth received 713 points in the AVCA poll, placing them 10th. The Bulldogs are 10-2 overall and 3-1 in NSIC play this season after falling in five sets to Northern State on Friday before sweeping MSU Moorhead on Saturday. The defense is led by two-time NSIC Defensive Player of the Week Kaylyn Madison, whose 5.34 digs per set ranks second in the NSIC and 16th in the country. Madison Gordon runs the point for an attack that ranks 10th in the country with 14.37 kills per set. Her 11.46 assists per set is the fifth in the country. 

The Huskies
St. Cloud State enters the weekend 11-2 overall and 4-0 in conference action following sweeps of MSU Moorhead and Northern State. The Huskies rank sixth in the latest AVCA poll, earning 937 points. Kenzie Foley ranks third in the country with 4.86 kills per set, fifth with 5.37 points per set, and 14th with 209 total kills. Emma Berran ranks fourth in the country with 11.51 assists per set, and the attack, as a whole, ranks third with 14.77 kills per set. 

The Vikings
Augustana earned its first NSIC win of the season on Saturday, taking down Minnesota State in three sets in front of the biggest home crowd since 2017. Kia Kriener led the attack with her third consecutive match with 15 kills, doing so while hitting .393.  Callie Hohenhaus added 11 kills while hitting .526. Maya Wente tallied four blocks, including three solo, and six kills. Erika Bute led the back line with 24 digs, while Lucy Bartee filled the stat sheet with 36 assists, seven digs, four kills, three aces, and two blocks. 

On the season, Kriener leads the Vikings with 153 kills, while freshman Reagan Jansen follows with 90 kills. Erika Bute leads the team with 222 digs, including 5.29 digs per set.

Also excelling on the front line are Maya Wente (76 kills, 38 blocks) and Callie Hohenhaus (82 kills, 30 blocks).

Lucy Bartee has put together an all-around contribution, adding 409 assists, 87 digs and 17 blocks. Kiylah Franke and Ellie Walker each lead the team with 14 service aces while adding 80 and 64 digs, respectively. 

One Last Thing
Erika Bute's 5.29 digs per set are good for 17th in the country, while her 222 total digs rank 47th. Also in the top 50 is Lucy Bartee, whose 9.74 assists per set rank 38th.

Looking Ahead
The Vikings prepare for a midweek matchup, traveling to Southwest Minnesota State on Tuesday, with the match slated to begin at 6 p.m.