SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The 2024 volleyball season will kick off for the Vikings on Thursday by hosting the home Augustana Classic at the Sanford Pentagon.
 
Five total teams will be in competition at the event, with matches scheduled from Thursday afternoon to Saturday afternoon. Augustana is set to face South Dakota Mines at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Northern State at 1:30 p.m. and Northwest Missouri State at 6 p.m. on Friday and will end the weekend with Alaska Anchorage at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
 
The Lineup
Augustana has won each of the previous eight contests against the Hardrockers, with the most recent victory coming in a five-set thriller on Sept. 2, 2022. The conference foe Wolves have faced the Vikings 43 times in history, winning the Oct. 28, 2023 matchup in four sets. Augustana and the Bearcats will face off for the 12^th time after Northwest Missouri State won the four-set Sept. 3, 2021 contest while the third-ever match with the Seawolves—and the first since a 2013 win—is set to take place.
 
South Dakota Mines
Following a year of no graduations or transfers, the Hardrockers return their entire 2023 roster that went 18-10 (10-4 in conference play) and qualified for the RMAC playoffs just a season ago. Three All-RMAC selection return, including Alessandra Meoni, who received all-region and all-American honors, and the team is selected to finish fourth in the conference.
 
Northern State
The 2023 Wolves went 19-9 (11-7 NSIC) on the season, qualified for the conference tournament and finished fifth in the league standings. 14 players return for coach Brent Aldridge, including all-conference standouts Abby Meister, Abby Brooks, Keri Walker and Natalia Szybinska, who are picked seventh in the NSIC.
 
Northwest Missouri State
Head coach Amy Woerth returns for her 13^th year with the Bearcats, who were picked sixth in the recent preseason MIAA Coaches' Poll. Northwest has reached 20-wins five of the last seven seasons and heads into 2024 with an upperclassmen-heavy roster of seven seniors and three juniors, including four all-conference performers.
 
Alaska Anchorage
UAA returns six letterwinners and three redshirts from the 2023 roster that went 16-17 (8-10 in conference play) and finished sixth overall. Second-year head coach Stacie Meisner also brings in six newcomers to a squad that was selected fifth in the 2024 Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason poll.
 
The Vikings 
Head coach Jennifer Jacobs will return for her eighth season at the helm of the Vikings while 11 athletes return from last year's roster. Eight newcomers will also join in for the 2024 season.
 
"I am excited for this year because our team is still fueled from the way we ended last year," said Jacobs. "They have been grinding hard this summer, and are determined to make a statement this fall."
 
In the same preseason release, setter Lucy Bartee was named as the Vikings' Player to Watch.
 
The senior from Kearney, Nebraska averaged 10.43 assists per set in 27 matches played during the 2023 season. She attacked at a clip of .202% and averaged 2.25 digs a set.
 
"Lucy has flown under the radar but you will remember her after this year," said Jacobs. "She has the quintessential setter mindset, she's able to discern what her teammates need on and off the court on any given moment. She is strategic in the moment, and creates plays to make her hitters have the best opportunity to score. She is the organizer of our squad on the floor, and has a competitive drive that is unmatched."
 
Looking Ahead
Augustana will head to Nampa, Idaho for the NNU Nighthawk Invitational from Sept. 12 to 14 for a four-game tilt.