SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Augustana volleyball opens its 2022 season within the Dr. Steve “Iceman” Aicinena Invitational in Odessa, Texas, hosted by Texas Permian Basin. The Vikings will face Southeastern Oklahoma State Friday at 11 a.m. Later within the day, the Vikings tackle the College of the Southwest (N.M.) at 3 p.m. Augustana opens the ultimate day of the invitational Saturday at 9 a.m. in opposition to Jap New Mexico earlier than going through off in opposition to Texas Permian Basin at 1 p.m. to shut out the motion in Odessa.
Followers can catch the motion at GoAugie.com/Stay and on the GoAugie app, introduced by CellOnly, discovered within the app retailer and on Google play.
The Matches
Unfamiliar opponents to the Vikings will likely be The College of the Southwest and Texas Permian Basin as the colleges face one another for the primary time at school historical past. Acquainted opponents to Augustana would be the Savage Storm of Southeastern Oklahoma which it holds a 2-0 file in opposition to with essentially the most earlier match up being in 2010. The Vikings additionally maintain a 2-0 file in opposition to the Greyhounds of Jap New Mexico who they final performed in 2017.
Southeastern Oklahoma State
The Savage Storm returns 6 gamers from final season wherein they went 8-19 throughout the 2021 marketing campaign. With a 5-11 mark in convention play, they completed seventh within the Nice American Convention standings. Southeastern Oklahoma State and Augustana each open every others 2022 schedules.
The Savage Storm added 12 new freshmen this season. They be a part of 6 returners from final season, together with Ruthie Forson who earned All-GAC honorable point out. Forson was sixth within the GAC in assists with 9.19 per set in her freshman marketing campaign.
College of the Southwest (N.M.)
The Mustangs went 11-16 throughout the 2021 marketing campaign. With a 7-5 mark in convention play, the Mustangs completed fourth within the Crimson River Athletic Convention within the NAIA. A full roster was unavailable on the time of publication.
Jap New Mexico
The Greyhounds return 13 gamers from final season wherein they went 7-19 throughout the 2021 marketing campaign. With a 7-10 mark in convention play, the Grizzlies completed thirteenth within the Lone Star Convention.
Jap New Mexico added seven new freshmen this season. They be a part of 13 returners from final season, together with sophomore reverse hitter Mikaela Garvin who was named the 2021 LSC Volleyball Freshman of the Yr. She totaled 213 kills and 60 whole blocks in her freshman season.
Texas Permian Basin
The Falcons return 12 gamers from final season wherein they went 17-11 throughout the 2021 marketing campaign. With a 10-7 mark in convention play, the Falcons completed seventh within the Lone Star Convention.
UT Permian Basin added seven new freshmen this season who be a part of the returners. Included within the 12 returners is senior center hitter Taurie Magee who earned All-LSC Event honors final season. She led the group in blocks with 92 and was second on the group with kills at 247 in 2021.
The Vikings
The Vikings return 11 gamers from their 2021 roster and add 5 newcomers. Of the 11 returning student-athletes are 4 starters: seniors Erika Bute, Maddy Guetter and Avery Thorson, and junior Jolie Stecher.
Bute returns for her fourth season with the Vikings. In her junior season, Bute averaged 4.68 digs per set rating second within the NSIC and led the group with 538 whole digs. Guetter, a fir completed sixth within the NSIC in whole kills with 415 on the 12 months, tallied 307 digs and 60 whole blocks in her junior season. Stecher returns for her second season following her freshman marketing campaign the place she tallied 154 kills and 116 whole blocks. Thorson was named the NSIC Participant to Watch with extra on her under
“We return virtually each starter from final 12 months, and the place we graduated some key positions, we all know we’ve got underclassmen greater than able to step up,” Jacobs mentioned within the NSIC Preseason launch. “The group ended final 12 months feeling unfinished, so we predict we will likely be enjoying with a slight chip on our shoulder to show we’re contenders on the highest degree. We’re trying ahead to seeing what we will do.”
Who to Watch For
The NSIC named senior setter Avery Thorson because the Vikings 2022 “Participant to Watch.”
Thorson, a Sioux Falls native, will likely be getting into her fifth season with the Vikings. In her 2021 season, Thorson acquired All-NSIC Second Crew Honors after rating thirty fourth within the nation with 10.44 assists per set and was ranked second within the NSIC in triple doubles. She recorded a season better of 57 assists in opposition to St. Cloud St. and Winona St. whereas main the group in assists at 1191.
“When Avery determined to remain an additional season utilizing the COVID waiver, we had been overjoyed. She has been a frontrunner on and off the court docket, and an integral a part of this group’s progress and success since her freshman 12 months,” mentioned Jacobs. “She is aware of the sport inside and outside, and she or he runs our offense easily with the flexibility to control defenses into our sport plans. We’re excited she’s again for an additional season.”
One Final Factor
The Vikings host the Augustana Volleyball Traditional on the Sanford Pentagon Sept. 2-3. For extra data on the basic, click on right here.
–GoAugie.com–
