SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana volleyball opens its 2026 season at the Bettye Wallace Invitational held in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, on Friday and Saturday. The Vikings will play UT Dallas, Henderson State, Arkansas-Fort Smith, and Cameron. 

Action and live results can be found on GoAugie.com/Live. 

The Vikings
Former All-American Erika Bute begins her tenure as the Vikings' newest head coach. Bute returned to Augustana following her first full season as a head coach at Bemidji State in 2025. She earned her first head coaching position after serving as an assistant coach on the Beaver Volleyball staff during the 2024 season. In her lone season as an assistant, she moved into the interim head coach position with seven games remaining in the regular season.

The Vikings were selected to finish 9th in the 2026 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll with 104 points. Concordia-St. Paul was picked first with 220 points and 11 first-place votes.

"Since stepping into this role, I've been impressed with this group's eagerness to compete and their willingness to embrace change," said head coach Erika Bute. "This year's roster has a strong foundation, with a great balance of veteran experience and young talent. This is a hungry group that's determined to compete and has a genuine passion for the game. I'm looking forward to seeing this group continue to grow and reach its potential throughout the season."

Augustana welcomed eight new Vikings and will roster 23 for the 2026 season. Senior middle blocker Maya Wente was selected as the Viking to watch for the NSIC. 

"Maya's experience and senior leadership make her an invaluable part of our program. As a two-time All-NSIC selection and three-time NSIC Fall Academic Team of Excellence honoree, she has consistently demonstrated excellence both on the court and in the classroom. Her love for the game is obvious every time she steps on the court through the energy, enthusiasm, and competitiveness she brings. That passion is what drives her desire to coach after college, and I know she'll continue to make a positive impact on the sport long after she's done playing."

Season Outlook
After this weekend's affairs, Augustana returns home to host the Augustana Volleyball Classic at the Sanford Pentagon. The Vikings will face UMary, Chadron State, Emporia State and Washburn. 

Augustana will begin NSIC play on Sept. 11 at St. Cloud State. The Vikings will host conference play against Concordia-St. Paul, Winona State, Wayne State, Minot State, Umary, Minnesota Duluth, Bemidji State, Sioux Falls, Minnesota State and St. Cloud State. 

The NSIC Tournament begins on Nov. 10, with the championship slated for Nov. 14-15.