Game Notes

Match Info

Opponent: Wayne State College (Neb.)
Date: Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Location: Crookston, Minn.
Arena: Lysaker Gymnasium (3,000 capacity)
Live Stats: https://netfiles.umn.edu/users/smithsd/livestats/xlive.htm
Opponent: Augustana College (S.D.)
Date: Sept. 22, 5 p.m.
Location: Crookston, Minn.
Arena: Lysaker Gymnasium (3,000 capacity)
Live Stats: https://netfiles.umn.edu/users/smithsd/livestats/xlive.htm
Twitter: UMCAthletics
Facebook: Golden Eagle Sports

Quick Hits

• Undefeated
    The University of Minnesota, Crookston is undefeated through three matches in conference play this season, a first for the Golden Eagle program. UMC has picked up a pair of 3-0 wins over University of Mary and Bemidji State University and a 3-1 victory over Minot State University.

• Snapping A Streak
    The Golden Eagle volleyball team snapped a six-year winless streak in Bemidji on Tuesday as they upended the Beavers in BSU Gymnasium for the first time since Oct. 24, 2006 when UMC upended BSU 3-2.

• Acing It!
    The University of Minnesota, Crookston is currently the top team in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in service aces with 70 so far this year. Brittany Looker (So., OH, Rochester, Minn.) leads the team with 21 and also leads the conference. In addition, the Golden Eagles are ranked 40th in the nation and Looker has the 11th-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.


• Swann Song
    It is now or never for Amanda Swann (Sr., OH, Rochester Hills, Mich.) the lone senior for UMC and she is taking advantage of it. Swann has been integral for the Golden Eagles in their last two wins as she had 14 kills against Minot State in a 3-1 win and 13 kills versus Bemidji State in a 3-0 victory.

• The Roaring 20's
    20 has been a key number for UMC this season. The Golden Eagles are 19-2 this season in sets where they reach 20 before their opponents. The only two set losses came in the first match of the season against Northern Michigan University and in a set versus Ferris State University. In addition, UMC has come back and won five sets in which the opponent reached 20 first.

• Chasing Slepicka
    In just over two seasons, Chelsea Wiesner (Jr., Lib., Rochester, Minn.) has accumulated 1,087 digs and earlier this season she became just the third player ever to surpass the 1,000 digs mark. Wiesner needs 385 digs the rest of the season to surpass Jacyln Slepicka's mark of 1,471 digs. Wiesner needs 337 digs to surpass Joan Ebnet's second-place mark of 1,423.

• Turning It Around
    The Golden Eagles had a major turnaround last season after going 12-16 following an 0-28 season in 2010. With a 3-0 start in the conferenc start, UMC looks to be making the next step in the process. This weekend will be a big one in terms of the Golden Eagle's season to see if they can continue to build on how they have started.

• Top-Notch Competition
    UMC will once again go up against the top NCAA Division II competition in the nation as the NSIC boasts six teams in the AVCA Top 25 poll including 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 and Minnesota Duluth are ranked in the top 10.

The Scoop

Previewing the Golden Eagles

    The University of Minnesota, Crookston has started the 2012 season with a 7-3 overall mark and began Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play 2-0 with wins over University of Mary and Minot State University last weekend and a win over Bemidji State on Tuesday. The Golden Eagles are led by Brittany Looker (So., OH, Rochester, Minn.), who has five double-doubles so far this year. Looker leads the team with 2.84 kills per set and is second on the team in digs with 3.03 digs per set. In addition, UMC has gotten solid performances through the first 10 games from Amanda Swann (Sr., OH, Rochester Hills, Mich.) and Alexandra Skeeter (Jr., OH, Milwaukee, Wis.). Swann comes in averaging 2.41 kills per set and Skeeter is averaging 2.06 kills per set. Paige Mitchell (R-Jr., West Palm Beach, Fla.) and Lindsey Rees (R-Jr., Bronson, Mich.) have split time at setter so far this year. Mitchell comes in averaging 4.48 assists per set while Rees is averaging 4.35 assists per set.

    Defensively, the Golden Eagles are led by Chelsea Wiesner (Jr., Lib., Rochester, Minn.), who became only the third person in program history to surpass 1,000 digs earlier this month. Wiesner is averaging 4.35 digs per set. The UMC block is led by Alyssa Schneider (Jr., MH, Racine, Wis.), who averages 0.77 blocks per set, and Morgan VanGerpen (So., MH, Overland Park, Kan.), who is averaging 0.82 blocks per set.

Previewing the Wildcats

    The Wayne State College Wildcats come in ranked No. 21 in the AVCA poll and boast a 8-3 record (2-1 NSIC). The Wildcats are coming off a split with Winona State University and Upper Iowa University and a win over Augustana on Tuesday. Wayne State fell to Winona State 3-2 and defeated Upper Iowa 3-1. The Wildcats are led offensively by 5-10 outside hitter Lauren Sieckmann, who is averaging 4.00 kills per set. At setter, redshirt freshman Leisa McClintock comes in averaging 10.06 assists per set. Defensively, Wayne State is paced by libero Courtney VanGroningen's 4.24 digs per set. VanGroningen was the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week last week.

Previewing the Vikings

    Augustana College has a 7-4 mark on the year and is 1-2 in the NSIC. The Vikings split with Winona State and Upper Iowa last week with a 3-0 win over Upper Iowa and a 3-0 loss to Winona State and fell 3-2 to Wayne State on Tuesday. Augustana is led offensively by Holly Hafameyer's 3.31 kills per set. At setter, Marissa Johnson comes in averaging 11.03 assists per set. Defensively, the Vikings are paced by Hafemeyer's 1.12 blocks per set and Grace Sanders' 4.44 digs per set and Kayla Wallerich's 3.28 digs per set.

The Rundown

10 Kill Performances
16, Brittany Looker vs. Ferris State University (Sept. 7, 2012)
14, Amanda Swann at Minot State University (Sept. 15, 2012)
13, Amanda Swann at Bemidji State University (Sept. 18, 2012)
13, Amanda Swann vs. Ferris State University (Sept. 7, 2012)
12, Brittany Looker vs. Northern Michigan University (Aug. 31, 2012)
12, Alexandra Skeeter vs. Shippensburg University (Sept. 8, 2012)
11, Alexandra Skeeter vs. Clarion University (Sept. 1, 2012)
11, Morgan VanGerpen vs. Shippensburg University (Sept. 8, 2012)
11, Brittany Looker at University of Mary (Sept. 16, 2012)
10, Brittany Looker vs. Shippensburg University (Sept. 8, 2012)


30 Assist Performances
32, Lindsey Rees vs. Ferris State University (Sept. 7, 2012)

20 Assist Performances
25, Lindsey Rees at Minot State University (Sept. 15, 2012)
20, Paige Mitchell vs. Clarion University (Sept. 1, 2012)
20, Paige Mitchell vs. Shippensburg University (Sept. 8, 2012)

20 Dig Performances
21, Chelsea Wiesner vs. Ferris State University (Sept. 7, 2012)
20, Chelsea Wiesner vs. Northern Michigan University (Aug. 31, 2012)

Double-Doubles
16 kills and 15 digs, Brittany Looker vs. Ferris State University (Sept. 7, 2012)
13 kills and 14 digs, Amanda Swann vs. Ferris State University (Sept. 7, 2012)
13 kills and 13 digs, Brittany Looker at Minot State University (Sept. 15, 2012)
12 kills and 14 digs, Alexandra Skeeter vs. Shippensburg University (Sept. 8, 2012)
12 kills and 11 digs, Brittany Looker vs. Northern Michigan University (Aug. 31, 2012)
11 kills and 11 digs, Brittany Looker at University of Mary (Sept. 14, 2012)
10 kills and 16 digs, Brittany Looker vs. Shippensburg University (Sept. 8, 2012)

Top Kills
16, Brittany Looker vs. Ferris State University (Sept. 7, 2012)
14, Amanda Swann at Minot State University (Sept. 15, 2012)
13, Amanda Swann vs. Ferris State University (Sept. 7, 2012)
13, Brittany Looker at Minot State University (Sept. 15, 2012)
13, Amanda Swann at Bemidji State University (Sept. 18, 2012)

Top Assists
32, Lindsey Rees vs. Ferris State University (Sept. 7, 2012)
25, Lindsey Rees at Minot State University (Sept. 15, 2012)
20, Paige Mitchell vs. Clarion University (Sept. 1, 2012)
20, Paige Mitchell vs. Shippensburg University (Sept. 8, 2012)

Top Digs
21, Chelsea Wiesner vs. Ferris State University (Sept. 7, 2012)
20, Chelsea Wiesner vs. Northern Michigan University (Aug. 31, 2012)

Top Blocks
7, Morgan VanGerpen at Minot State University (Sept. 15, 2012)
5, Morgan VanGerpen vs. University of Minnesota Duluth (Sept. 8, 2012)
5, Alyssa Schneider vs. Clarion University (Sept. 1, 2012)