GAME NOTES

CROOKSTON, Minn. -

Tournament Info
Tournament: UMD Classic
Location: Duluth, Minn.
Arena: Romano Gymnasium
Schedule:
Fri., Sept. 7 vs. (19) Ferris State University, 1 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 8 vs. Shippensburg University, 1 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 8 vs. (6) University of Minnesota Duluth, 7 p.m.
Twitter: UMCAthletics
Facebook: Golden Eagle Sports

Quick Hits

• Wiesner and Looker Named All-Tournament
    University of Minnesota, Crookston volleyball players Chelsea Wiesner (Jr., Lib., Rochester, Minn.) and Brittany Looker (So., OH, Rochester, Minn.) were among 13 players selected to the Ferris State Invitational All-Tournament team following a strong showing by the Golden Eagles at the tournament. Wiesner accumulated 56 digs for an average of 4.00 digs per set for the Golden Eagles on the weekend while Looker had 32 kills for an average of 2.67 kills per set. Looker also had 10 service aces and 30 digs for an average of 2.50 digs per set.

• Former Assistant Takes On Former Boss
    Lee Anderson will get a chance to take on his former boss when the Golden Eagles face Ferris State University. Anderson worked under Tia Brandel-Wilhelm at Ferris State during the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

• Wiesner Inching Toward Record
    In two seasons, Chelsea Wiesner (Jr., Lib., Rochester, Minn.), has accumulated  1,035 digs. Wiesner is just 476 digs away from Jaclyn Slepicka's school record at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Wiesner has two seasons to meet the mark after picking up 562 digs as a sophomore last season.

• Turning It Around
    The Golden Eagles had a major turnaround last season after going 12-16 following an 0-28 season in 2010. UMC will continue to look to build on last season's improvement as they return a strong core from last season's group and add in several new components that look to help the program take the next step.

• 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 preseason 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 also in the top 10 of the preseason poll.

• Golden Eagles Picked 11th in the League
    The University of Minnesota, Crookston was picked to finish 11th in the league after finishing 11th in the NSIC last season.

The Scoop

The Tournament
    The University of Minnesota, Crookston, coming off a 3-1 start to the season, will travel to the UMD Classic this weekend in Duluth, Minn. to play three matches including two against opponents ranked in this week's AVCA Top 25 poll in No. 6 University of Minnesota Duluth and No. 19 Ferris State University. The Golden Eagles will also face Shippensburg University in the tournament that will round out the squad's non-conference slate for the 2012 season.

Minnesota, Crookston

     UMC had a very strong start to the 2012 campaign as it came away with three victories at the Ferris State Invitational last weekend in Big Rapids, Mich. The Golden Eagles will look to build on that momentum this weekend. The University of Minnesota, Crookston had a well balanced attack last weekend as several players put forth solid outings in the team's four matches. The Rochester, Minn. pair of Chelsea Wiesner (Jr., Lib.) and Brittany Looker (So., OH) came away with All-Ferris State Invitational honors for their performances. Wiesner averaged 4.00 digs per set while Looker averaged 2.67 kills per set and 2.50 digs per set while also notching 10 service aces.

    In addition to Wiesner and Looker, the Golden Eagles also got solid outings from Alexandra Skeeter (Jr., OH/S) who averaged 2.31 kills per set, along with senior Amanda Swann (OH, Rochester Hills, Mich.), who returned to her home state and averaged 1.93 kills per set. Alyssa Schneider (Jr., MH, Racine, Wis.) averaged 1.54 kills per set and 0.85 blocks per set.

    Paige Mitchell (R-Jr., S, West Palm Beach, Fla.) and Lindsey Rees (R-Jr., S, Bronson, Mich.) shared the setting responsibilities for UMC as Mitchell averaged 4.46 assists per set and Rees made her Golden Eagle debut and averaged 3.07 assists per set.

Ferris State

    The Ferris State University Bulldogs come in ranked No. 19 in the nation. Ferris State and UMC both participated in the Ferris State Invitational last weekend. The Bulldogs also went 3-1 in the tournament as they picked up victories over Alderson-Broaddus College, West Virginia State University and Clarion University. The lone loss for Ferris State came at the hands of Mercyhurst College, as the Bulldogs fell 3-2.

    Ferris State was led last weekend by the play of 6-2 middle hitter Anne Sutton. Sutton, a 2011 All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) First Team selection averaged 3.13 kills per set. Setter Samantha Fordyce, also a 2011 GLIAC First Team pick, helped the Bulldog hitters to a .233 attack percentage in four matches while she averaged 8.80 assists per set.

    Defensively, the Bulldogs were guided by Brandie Merren's 4.60 digs per set while she helped hold opposing offenses to a .132 attack percentage.

Shippensburg

    Shippensburg University opened the 2012 campaign with a 2-1 record at the Marauder classic. The Raiders picked up victories over Holy Family University and Adelphi University but fell to Long Island University-Post.

    The Raiders were paced on the offensive end by Jill Edwards, the 2011 Daktronics Atlantic Region Player of the Year, who averaged 3.46 kills per set. Edwards was also a 2011 All-Pennsylvenia State Athletic Conference First Team selection. Shippensburg hit .174 as a team. The squad's setter, Andrea Heimsoth, averaged 9.46 assists per set in the three games for the Raiders.

    Defensively,  Shippensburg was led by Lauren Murphy's 4.38 digs per set.

Minnesota Duluth
   
    The University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs enter the weekend with a 5-0 mark and a No. 6 ranking in the AVCA poll as they continue to boast one of the nation's top programs year in and year out. The Bulldogs picked up victories over McKendree University, Truman State University, Ashland University and University of Missouri-St. Louis last weekend at the 2012 Days Inn Bulldog Invitational in Kirksville, Mo. In addition, UMD defeated Northern Michigan University in its home opener in a mid-week affair.

    Jim Boos' squad is paced by Kate Lange's 4.72 kills per set and Jaclyn Barrette's 11.44 assists per set. Lange was a 2011 AVCA All-America First Team pick. Barrette takes over setting duties full-time for the first time this season.

    Defensively, Julie Rainey, a 2011 All-NSIC Honorable Mention selection is averaging 5.40 digs per set.

The Rundown

10 Kill performances
12, Brittany Looker vs. Northern Michigan University (Aug. 31, 2012)
11, Alexandra Skeeter vs. Clarion University (Sept. 1, 2012)

20 Assist Performances
20, Paige Mitchell vs. Clarion University (Sept. 1, 2012)

20 Dig Performances
20, Chelsea Wiesner vs. Northern Michigan University (Aug. 31, 2012)

Double-Doubles
12 kills and 11 digs, Brittany Looker vs. Northern Michigan University (Aug. 31, 2012)

Top Kills on Season
12, Brittany Looker vs. Northern Michigan University (Aug. 31, 2012)
11, Alexandra Skeeter vs. Clarion University (Sept. 1, 2012)
9, Alexandra Skeeter vs. Northern Michigan University (Aug. 31, 2012)

Top Assists on Season
20, Paige Mitchell vs. Clarion University (Sept. 1, 2012)
19, Paige Mitchell vs. Alderson-Broaddus College (Sept. 1, 2012)
15, Lindsey Rees vs. Northern Michigan University (Aug. 31, 2012)

Top Digs on Season
20, Chelsea Wiesner vs. Northern Michigan University (Aug. 31, 2012)
15, Chelsea Wiesner vs. Clarion University (Sept. 1, 2012)
14, Brittany Looker vs. Clarion University (Sept. 1, 2012)

Top Blocks on Season
5, Alyssa Schneider vs. Clarion University (Sept. 1, 2012)
4, Four Times