ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings men's volleyball team kicks off the 2024 season with a home opener against the Concordia-Chicago Cougars on Thursday, January 18.

The Vikings are returning from a 12-12 overall record and a 2-8 mark in conference play last season. Augustana returns their top eight kill-getters from last season, including four with 100-plus. Aidan Bolen returns after leading the Vikings with 210 and a 2.76 per set mark. Setter Matthew Degnan also returns after tallying 664 assists last year, while Max Sellers and Ben Schultz are back after anchoring a defensive attack with 212 digs and 61 blocks, respectively. Augie will begin the season with its first four matches to be played in the Carver Center, where they went 4-4 a season ago. The Vikings also concluded the 2023 season with a 10-4 record against non-conference opponents.  

The Cougars are a part of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference and started their season on Saturday with two non-conference battles against Maranatha Baptist, grabbing 3-0 wins in both. Concordia ended its 2023 campaign with a 15-12 overall record and a 7-5 mark in the NACC, knocking off MSOE in the conference tournament before falling to top-seeded Benedictine. The Cougars finished 5-5 in road contests a season ago.

Both teams have won two matches of their four face-offs, with Concordia finding a 3-2 at home victory last March.  

Start time is scheduled for 5 p.m.