VALLEY CITY, ND  (NewsDakota.com)  Valley City State will open it’s softball season this weekend at the University of Jamestown.

The Vikings will face Northern State, SD, twice, Montana State University-Billings and Dakota Wesleyan, SD over Friday and Saturday under the dome.  VCSU faces Northern and MSU-Billings Friday, then Dakota Wesleyan and Northern on Saturday.

The Vikings are picked second in the NSAA preseason poll.  Bellevue is picked first, with the Vikings just ahead of the University of Jamestown.

Valley City State returns four NSAA first-team All Conference players.  Pitcher Maddy Zander, infielder Alyssa DePoorter, and outfielders Kennadi Stone and Makenzee Stone claimed All-NSAA first team honors a year ago.

Ashlyn Diemert, currently leading the Viking womens basketball team, returns after winning at-large second-team honors a year ago.

The Vikings hope to open their home season April 5th vs Bellevue University.