Live Stats
Game Notes

CROOKSTON, Minn.

Gameday Info
Opponent: University of Sioux Falls
Date: Oct. 12, 7 p.m.
Location: Crookston, Minn.
Arena: Lysaker Gymnasium
Live Stats: https://netfiles.umn.edu/users/smithsd/livestats/xlive.htm
Opponent: (2) Southwest Minnesota State University
Date: Oct. 13, 4 p.m.
Location: Crookston, Minn.
Arena: Lysaker Gymnasium
Live Stats: https://netfiles.umn.edu/users/smithsd/livestats/xlive.htm
Twitter: UMCAthletics
Facebook: Golden Eagle Sports

Quick Hits
• Chart Climber
    Chelsea Wiesner (Jr., Lib., Rochester, Minn.) is on a roll as of late. Wiesner is averaging 23.5 digs per set over the last four matches including a season-high 27 digs versus Minnesota State University, Moorhead Oct. 6. She also tallied 23 digs against Northern State University and Upper Iowa University. Wiesner also had 21 digs versus Winona State. Wiesner's dig performances has moved her up to No. 2 in the NSIC for digs per set and No. 31 in the nation. Wiesner has 272 digs this season. She needs 261 digs to move past Jaclyn Slepicka, who holds the school record for digs with 1,471 digs.

• Winning The First Set
    The University of Minnesota, Crookston has won 10 out of 16 first sets this season. The hurdle they have to get over now is winning matches in which they do so. The last three times they won the first set in a match, they ended up losing the match. The Golden Eagles won the first set against Minnesota State University, Moorhead, Northern State and Winona State before falling.

• Acing It!
    The University of Minnesota, Crookston is currently the top team in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in service aces with 96 so far this year. Brittany Looker (So., OH, Rochester, Minn.) leads the team with 23 and also leads the conference. In addition, the Golden Eagles are ranked 68th in the nation and Looker has the 68th-most aces by a single player in the nation. In the conference, Alexandra Skeeter (Jr., OH, Milwaukee, Wis.) and Paige Mitchell (R-Jr., S, West Palm Beach, Fla.) are also among the best.

• Can You Dig It?
    Led by the play of Chelsea Wiesner the Golden Eagles have jumped all the way to No. 1 in the league for digs per set and No. 41 nationally in the same category. UMC has had 928 digs this season. Wiesner leads the team averaging 4.95 digs per set. In addition, Brittany Looker is averaging 3.51 digs per set while Alexandra Skeeter is averaging 3.17 digs per set.

• The Roaring 20's
    20 has been a key number for UMC this season. The Golden Eagles are 20-6 this season in sets where they reach 20 before their opponents. The only six set losses came in the first match of the season against Northern Michigan University, in a set versus Ferris State University, against Augustana College, against Upper Iowa and Winona State. In addition, UMC has come back and won seven sets in which the opponent reached 20 first, including the first set last weekend against MSU Moorhead.

• Doubling Up
    Brittany Looker has been one of UMC's strongest players offensively and defensively this season. It has shown in the matches this season as Looker has nine double-doubles this season. Looker notched 11 kills and 17 digs versus Northern State while adding 12 digs and 21 digs versus MSU Moorhead last weekend. Looker currently leads the team in kills and is second in digs.

• Top-Notch Competition
    UMC will once again go up against the top NCAA Division II competition in the nation as the NSIC boasts five teams in the AVCA Top 25 poll including No. 6 Concordia-St. Paul, the five-time consecutive NCAA National Champion returns four AVCA All-American picks to the team heading into 2012. In addition, Southwest Minnesota State is ranked No. 2 and Minnesota Duluth is ranked No. 3 while Minnesota State and Wayne State (Neb.) are also ranked in the top 25.

The Scoop

Previewing the Golden Eagles

    The University of Minnesota, Crookston comes into the weekend looking to snap a six-match losing streak with their last win coming Sept. 18 at Bemidji State University. The Golden Eagles have a 7-9 (3-6 NSIC) mark this year.

    Chelsea Wiesner (Jr., Lib., Rochester, Minn.) continues to be a terror in the back row as the libero has notched over 20 digs in her last four matches including 27 digs versus Minnesota State University, Moorhead last Saturday. Wiesner also tallied over 20 digs against Northern State University, Winona State University and Upper Iowa University.

    Offensively, the Golden Eagles have remained balanced as three players are averaging over two kills per set. Brittany Looker (So., OH, Rochester, Minn.) has paced UMC with 2.92 kills per set and is hitting .156, while Amanda Swann (Sr., OH, Rochester Hills, Mich.) is averaging 2.65 kills per set and is hitting .163 and Alexandra Skeeter (Jr., OH, Milwaukee, Wis.) is averaging 2.00 kills per set. At setter, Paige Mitchell (R-Jr., West Palm Beach, Fla.) and Lindsey Rees (R-Jr., Bronson, Mich.) continue to split time. Mitchell is averaging 4.96 assists per set while Rees is averaging 4.24 assists per set.


Previewing the Cougars

    The University of Sioux Falls is in its first season as a full-fledged members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Cougars enter the weekend with a 9-9 (1-8 NSIC) mark. Sioux Falls is coached by second-yar boss Joel McCartney, who arrived in Sioux Falls after spending four seasons as the head coach of the University of Georgia.

    The Cougars are led offensively by a trio that is each averaging over two kills per set. The group is paced by sophomore outside hitter Emily Johnson, averaging 2.77 kills per set. In addition to Johnson, senior middle blocker Sarah Kohler is averaging 2.46 kills per set while fellow senior Chanda Goedken averages 2.14 kills per set. At setter, junior Alexa Reed is averaging 9.77 assists per set and has led USF to a .244 hitting percentage on the year. Defensively, Andrea Odbert sets the bar with 3.77 digs per set while middle blocker Samantha Lovell averages 0.92 blocks per set.


Previewing the Mustangs

    Southwest Minnesota State University enters the weekend ranked No. 2 in the nation in the AVCA poll. The Mustangs boast a mark of 16-1 (8-1 NSIC) with their only loss coming at the hands of five-time defending NCAA Division II National Champion Concordia University, St. Paul.

    Southwest Minnesota State is led by reigning NSIC Offensive Player of the Week Mary Groth, who was a 2011 AVCA All-America second team pick. Groth comes in averaging 3.52 kills per set. SMSU has two other players averaging over three kills per set as Brooke Burmeister, also a 2011 AVCA All-America second team selection , is averaging 3.17 kills per set and Abbey Thissen is averaging 3.02 kills per set. At setter, reigning NSIC Setter of the Week, Emilee Gutzmer, comes in averaging 13.15 assists per set. Defensively, SMSU is led by libero Rachel Westby and 2010 NSIC Offensive Player of the Year Devin Diedrich, who is averaging 1.33 blocks per set this season.