SIOUX FALLS- The University of Sioux Falls volleyball team will look to cool down a very hot Augustana team when they go to the Elmen Center on Tuesday for a key Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) match.

The Rundown (2019 Record):
Tue., Nov. 5, 6 p.m. at (RV) Augustana Vikings (16-8, 9-6 NSIC)

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(RV) Augustana Vikings (16-8, 9-6 NSIC):
The Vikings, under the direction of third-year head coach Jennifer Jacobs, have powered to a 16-8, 96 NSIC record.

The last time the two teams met, the Vikings were in the middle of a three week span of going 2-5. Since that span, the Vikings have went 4-0, including a pair of wins last week at home against No. 13 Wayne State at home (3-2) and a straight-set, road upset of No. 18 Southwest Minnesota State.

Freshman Maddy Guetter leads the Vikings in kills (234) and kills per set (2.89). Sophomore Avery Thorson has been a huge factor in the Vikings' offense, recording 876 assists (10.07 assists per set).

On defense, the freshman Erika Bute on the ground and sophomore Abby Benson at the net. Bute has amassed 476 digs (5.47 digs per set) where Benson has blocked 77 attacks (1.00 blocks per set).

Sioux Falls Cougars (14-9, 6-9 NSIC):
The Cougars, led by head coach Joel McCartney, have been a streaky team all season, not have lost or won a game in between two of the other. 

USF will look to end their current streak of four tough losses in what will be a very competitive match with the Vikings. In their four losses, the Cougars have faced all ranked opponents in No. 5 Minnesota Duluth, No. 8 St. Cloud State, No. 18 SMSU, and No. 13 Wayne State.

The Cougars have leaned on seniors KaSandra Springer and Abby Feyereisen, both of whom have recorded 200 or more kills on the season. Springer has recorded a team-leading 270 kills (3.91 kills per set) where Feyereisen is at an even 200 kills (2.63 kills per set). Junior Krista Goerger, the all-time Division II program leader in assists, has put on a show in the 2019 campaign, collecting 764 assists (10.05 assists per set) on the season.

Springer has also led the team in service aces, acing 40 of her serves that puts her at 0.58 aces per set, the sixth-best mark in NCAA Division II.

Defense has ran through senior transfer Allie Maloney and redshirt sophomore Kenzie Byers. Maloney has handled the ground, recording 293 of the 1,172 Cougars' digs (4.19 digs per set), where Byers has been a menace at the net with 63 blocks (0.83 blocks per set).

The last meeting and the Division II History:
In their last meeting, Springer recorded a career-best 25 kills, in addition to her 13 digs to complete the double-double, that pushed the Cougars to the five-set thriller win over the Vikings.  Goerger was also a key in the match with 49 assists.

The Vikings were also stymied by Byers at the net, with Byers blocking eight Viking attacks.

Since the Cougars joined the NSIC and NCAA Division II, USF has held a 5-2 advantage over the Vikings, including the past three matches. In that span, each match has went to five sets.

Where the Cougars and Vikings stand in the NSIC: