CAMROSE, AB- "I'm really excited for this season, we had a good finish to last season and hope to keep that momentum into the start of this year” says Head Coach Devin Varga. “I think the North will be very competitive but our goal is to improve on last season's record and get back to the Conference Championships. We have loads of talent on our starting line up, but the continuity we have is a bigger factor than what people think.”
Having only two spots to fill with the departure of starters Boris Kuljanin and Jake Christensen, Varga is optimistic with the talent of his incoming athletes, “James, Matias and Campbell are all so talented they seemed to fit in seamlessly. We have a deep team this year which makes practices very competitive which should prepare us well for what we are going to be up against this season. I can't wait to start the season, I'm looking forward to seeing what our veterans will bring this year.”
Varga is excited about the returning players as well, all of which enter this season with a hunger built from the momentum of last season. “Both Joel and Devon are coming off all start seasons and we feel like Owen had a really good year regardless if he was recognized for it or not” says Varga. “Those three are our leaders and they are all hungry for more which is infectious. Practices have been fun to watch this past week and we look ready to play. I think we will get a pretty big crowd and we are excited to play hard in front of them, it's going to be a lot of fun."
Key Returners:
ACAC All-Conference Outside: Devon Nazarchuk
ACAC All-Conference Libero: Joel Smith
Augustana Vikings Middle Blocker: Owen Rasmuson
Key Additions:
Outside Hitter: James Galido
Middle Blocker: Campbell Hutchinson
Setter: Mathias Romanick
Looking Ahead:
The Vikings are gearing up to launch their 2025/26 campaign with a highly anticipated home opener on October 17th. The action kicks off at 8:00 p.m. as they take on the Olds College Broncos in what’s expected to be an electric night at home.
Fans can look forward to a fast-paced, hard-fought matchup as the Vikings aim to set the tone early and build off last season’s success. Blending fresh faces with a battle-tested returning core, this year’s squad is ready to showcase their depth, determination, and drive from the opening whistle. With their sights firmly set on the ACAC Championships hosted by Red Deer Polytechnic, the journey to the top begins right here on home court.
For additional information, contact:
David Ritz, University of Alberta-Augustana
Vikings Business and Operations Director
dritz@ualberta.ca
Emily Peterson, University of Alberta-Augustana
Game Day/Marketing & Communications Coordinator
pe1@ualberta.ca
Instagram: @uofa_augvikings
Facebook: University of Alberta Augustana Vikings
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