GOLDEN, COLO. -- After being away from the competitive court for over 600 days, the University of Sioux Falls Volleyball Team will take the court at the Oredigger Classic at the University of Colorado Mines on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 3-4.  The classic includes eight teams including USF, Colorado Christian, Colorado Mines, Seattle Pacific, Grand Valley State, Midwestern State, Colorado Mesa and another NSIC team, Southwest Minnesota State.

The Cougars, directed by first-year head coach Dan Mathews, will look for a quick start as they face a strong squad from Grand Valley State as both teams will play their first match of the season. The Cougars, which finished 17-11 in 2019 have been picked to finish 11^th in the NSIC but return a bevy of veterans and talented newcomers. USF will face GVSU for the first time when they take the court at 11:30 am (MST) on Friday, Sept. 3 on Court 2 at the Lockridge Arena.

USF-GVSU - Click here for live stats and live video.

Later at 4 pm (MST) on Sept. 3, the Cougars will face Colorado Mesa (0-0) for the first time as they play on Court 1 at the Lockinridge Arena.

To follow along for the USF-Mesa match, click here for live stats and live video

On day two (Sept. 4_, the Cougars will play Midwestern State at 9:30 am and Colorado Christian at 4 pm at Lockridge Arena on Court 1. USF has played MWSU once before with a 3-0 win on Sept. 13, 2019 at Denton, Texas. The Cougars took a 25-16, 25-15 and 25-17 win as they had a 75-48 edge in overall games. The Cougars conclude their opening weekend with a match against Colorado Christian, another team that USF has not played.

For live stats for the Midwestern State and Colorado Christian matches, click here - live stats - live video.

Quick Preview of USF
After missing the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, USF will return 12 letter winners and five players who made starts on a team that finished 17-11 in 2019 with the program's first-ever national ranking through the AVCA. USF, which has been picked 11^th in the 2021 NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll, finished 9-11 in the conference two years ago. USF ranked ninth in the NSIC in hitting percentage at .230 and eighth in kills with 13.40 per game in 2019. USF was also ninth in blocks at 1.74 while ranking first in service aces with 1.82 per set (94 sets).

Early this fall, Mathews noted how excited he was about the start of camp and the opportunity that lays ahead for the Cougars. He was especially pleased with the leadership from across the boards.
"I'm most excited about the way our upperclassmen leadership group will mentor our younger players. With a strong group of seniors graduating after Fall 2021 and Spring 2022, this is their final opportunity to leave a legacy in our program," said Mathews. "Stepping into their shoes is a capable group of Freshmen and Sophomores who are eager to continue building on the tradition established by their predecessors. I expect that bringing these dynamics together will be an incredibly rewarding process."

USF will be led by NSIC Player to Watch and senior setter Krista Goerger, who was named this summer a CoSIDA Academic All-American – a program first. A three-time Academic All-NSIC honoree and Elite 18 NSIC Award honoree, she is the career leader at USF in set assists with 2,397.
USF also returns senior middle blocker Kenzie Byers, who ranked 15^th in the NSIC in blocks per game at 0.83 and had 212 kills or 2.26 per set. Also back will be 2018 NSIC All-League senior outside hitter Averey Yaksich, who has 519 career kills (10^th all-time at USF) and 618.5 points.
Sophomore opposite Brooklynne Albrecht had 101 kills (1.11 per set) and 210 digs in 28 matches in 2019. Defensive specialist TiaRose Nagami had 141 digs in 28 matches while sophomore outside hitter Nicole Jacobson had 144 kills and 124 digs.