Box Score CROOKSTON, Minn. – Middle Hitter Morgan VanGerpen (So., Overland Park, Kan.) tallied 10 kills and hit .381 to lead the University of Minnesota, Crookston Golden Eagles past Minot State University 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-23) Friday night at Lysaker Gymnasium. The 10-kill performance was the second time this season VanGerpen had tallied over 10 kills and the third time of her two-year career. The Golden Eagles improve to 10-12 (6-9 NSIC) with the conference victory. Minot State falls to 5-20 (1-14 NSIC) and is in lone possession of last place in the conference standings after Bemidji State defeated University of Mary 3-0 Friday night.

In addition to VanGerpen, Brittany Looker (So., OH, Rochester, Minn.) had nine kills and hit .240 for the match while Alexandra Skeeter (So., OH, Milwaukee, Wis.) and Amada Swann (Sr., OH, Rochester Hills, Mich.) each added five kills. Lindsey Rees (R-Jr., S, Bronson, Mich.) paced the team with 17 assists on the night and along with Paige Mitchell's (R-Jr., S, West Palm Beach, Fla.) 14 assists, helped UMC to a .189 hitting percentage on the night.

Defensively, Skeeter paced UMC with her second match this season in which she has eclipsed 20 digs as she tallied exactly 20 on the night. Libero Chelsea Wiesner (Jr., Rochester, Minn.) chipped in 12 digs as UMC averaged 17 digs per set on the night. VanGerpen and Skeeter led the UMC block as VanGerpen tallied one solo block and four block assists while Skeeter notched a solo block and three block assists.

Minot State's offense was led primarily by two people as Shari Hewson and Mallory Sall combined for 29 of the Beavers' 38 kills on the night. Sall, the reigning NSIC Offensive Player of the Week, tallied 16 kills for the match, while Hewson added 13. Setter Emily Byrne had 36 assists for the match as Minot State hit .121 including 23 errors.

Defensively, Hewson capped off a double-double performance to lead the Beavers with 17 digs while Tarah Dabovich led the block with three block assists.

The Golden Eagles picked up a set win over the Beavers 25-21. The win marked the 21st set UMC had won this year when they reach 20 before their opponents. The set was back-and-forth until the Golden Eagles reached 20 and took control as they took six of the last eight points led by two kills from Rees. Looker led UMC in the first set with five kills while Rees and eight assists. The first set was UMC's best offensively as they had 15 kills and hit .263 compared to a .130 hitting percentage for the Beavers. Shari Hewson led Minot State in the first frame with seven kills.

In the second set, it was again a back-and-forth tussle early on. UMC hung on for the victory despite a late surge from Minot State in which the Beavers won five of the last seven points. The Golden Eagles reached 20 first again to improve their mark to 22-6 when they reach that mark before their opponents. VanGerpen paced her team with four kills in the frame. Skeeter had 11 of her 20 digs in the second set alone.

The third set read very similar to the first two as it was again a back-and-forth set for the two NSIC squads. UMC reached 20 first but the Beavers quickly knotted the score 20-20. The game was knotted up again at 22-22 but the Golden Eagles took three of the last four points led the three Minot State attack errors down the stretch. VanGerpen again led the way for UMC with four kills in the set.

The Golden Eagles have now swept both of the teams they have faced twice this season in Minot State and Bemidji State. U-Mary will be the third team they have battled with twice in NSIC play this season as they take the court at 5 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium Saturday. The Golden Eagles are just two wins shy of matching their win total of 12 last season. Tomorrow night will also serve as senior night for their lone senior, Swann, who has been a starter her entire career in Crookston.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics Web site at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

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The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).
                                       
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