ROCK ISLAND, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings men's water polo team will be back in action on Saturday, October 9th when they head to O'Fallon, Ill. to play in the McKendree Tournament. The Vikings will face off with the host school McKendree Bearcats at noon before taking on the Salem Tigers later in the day at 5:30 p.m.

Augustana (1-6) is coming off a two-day stay at the Gary Troyer Tournament in California last weekend where they went 0-4 against a competitive field. The team played two nationally ranked NCAA DIII opponents in Chapman and Cal Lutheran to go with a battle against an NCAA DI foe in California Baptist. The Vikings closed out the trip with a close 12-9 defeat to Westcliff. 

The first game of the day on Saturday will be against the Bearcats of McKendree, who enter the weekend with a 4-6 record. The Bearcats and Vikings have played three common opponents this season. McKendree fell to Cal Lutheran in an exhibition to begin the season, but defeated Westcliff on September 30th-- also an exhibition. The Bearcats also were victorious over Washington & Jefferson earlier this season by a score of 20-5. The Vikings fell to the Presidents back in September by just a point.

In their second matchup of the day, the Vikings will take on the Tigers of Salem, who come in with a 4-8 record. The Tigers compete at the NCAA DII level and are currently riding a two-game winning streak following wins over Mercyhurst and Washington & Jefferson. The team has won three of its last four after beginning the year 1-7. The Tigers also defeated Penn State-Behrend this year, who the Vikings were triumphant over in their season opener.

Both games will be live streamed via the GLVC Sports Network. The tournament is held at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex Pool in O'Fallon.