CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team put together one of their best matches of the season but fell 3-2 (22-25, 25-20, 25-14, 18-25, 15-13) in a thrilling match against Northern State University in front of a large Homecoming crowd at Lysaker Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles fall to 9-11 (3-9 NSIC) with the loss, while Northern State improves to 14-6 (7-5 NSIC) with Friday's win.

The Golden Eagles were led by an outstanding performance from Brittany Looker (Sr., OH, Rochester, Minn./Health Science), who had 24 kills and hit .263 for the match. In addition, right side hitter Kassi Green (R-Fr., Anoka, Minn./Elementary Education) put together perhaps the best match of her young career with 14 kills and a .367 hitting percentage. Her twin sister Kelci Green (R-Fr., MH, Anoka, Minn./Biology) added seven kills and hit. 545 for the match. Sierra Trost (So., S, Ham Lake, Minn./Health Science) led the team with 31 assists, while Kaycie Hagen (Fr., S, Savage, Minn./Health Science) added 23. UMC hit an impressive .258 for the match.

Defensively, Mary Mikutowski (Sr., Lib., Stillwater, Minn./Health Science) led the way with 16 digs, while Trost added 13. On the block, the Green twins led the way with Kelci Green tallying one solo block and four block assists, while Kassi Green had one solo block and three block assists.

Northern State was led by an impressive outing from Kelsey Chambers, who had 26 kills and hit .447. Jussy Tuscherer added 14 kills and hit .242, while Cari McGarvie added 11. The Wolves hit .275 for the match led by normal outside hitter Holly Vancura, who played setter in the absence of injured setter Drew Smith. Vancura finished with 55 assists.

Defensively, Renee Hoffman led the way with 16 digs, while Vancura added 11 and Chambers had 10. On the block, Tori Biach led the way with three block assists.

UMC put up a strong first set with 16 kills and one error. The Golden Eagles fell in the third with 13 kills and seven errors and a .188 hitting percentage. They struggled again in the third set with nine kills and seven errors and a .067 hitting percentage. UMC bounced back in the fourth set with 15 kills and three errors and a .343 hitting percentage.

The fifth set went back-and-forth until the end with the Golden Eagles rallying to make it 14-13 with kills from Looker and Rachel Freund. Northern State picked up the win with a kill from Jussy Tuscherer.

UMC will take on MSU Moorhead at 4 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium Sat., Oct. 18.

 
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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).