CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles came up with a hard-fought 3-2 (25-19, 36-34, 21-25, 25-27, 15-10) win over Bemidji State University as Stephanie Pearson (Jr., OH, Frankfort, Ill./Accounting) ended a career-night in fitting fashion with the game five winning kill for the Golden Eagles. Pearson charted a 20-20 performance with 21 kills and 21 digs and hit .288 for the match. UMC was close to having two players with 20-20 performances as Brittany Looker (Sr., OH, Rochester, Minn./Health Science) notched 23 kills and 19 digs and hit .239 for the match.

The match also highlighted by an amazing 36-34 second set, which ties for second all-time for most points by a winning team in a set during the 25-point scoring era, which has been in place since 2008. The NCAA record is 37 points, set by Minnesota Crookston last season against Augustana College (S.D.).

In addition to Looker and Pearson, Kassi Green (R-Fr., RS, Anoka, Minn./Elementary Education) finished with 12 kills and hit .300. The Golden Eagles would hit .238 for the match with 78 kills and 29 errors. Sierra Trost (So., S, Ham Lake, Minn./Health Science) notched 35 assists, while Kaycie Hagen (Fr., S, Savage, Minn./Health Science) tallied 34 assists on the night.

Defensively, Becca Vandenheuvel (Fr., Lib., Cannon Falls, Minn./Elementary Education) had one of her best performances of a young career with 24 digs. On the block, Kelci Green (R-Fr., MH, Anoka, Minn./Biology) led the way with one solo block and six block assists.

Bemidji State put together a strong match, battling back from down two sets to force a fifth. BSU had four players in double-figure kills led by Amanda Tronick, who had 17 kills and hit .212 for the match. In addition, Jessica Yost added 15 kills and hit .318. Rachel Craig finished with 13 kills and hit .143. Kelsi Crawford chipped in 11 kills for the match. At setter, Courtney Volkmann notched 47 assists as BSU hit .214 for the match with 67 kills and had 24 errors.

Defensively, Kayla DeJong led the way with 27 digs. On the block, Craig tallied seven block assists to lead the way.

In the nearly record-breaking second set, both teams would battle back-and-forth but the Golden Eagles would come up with four of the last five points in the set led by a pair of Looker kills and a Vandenheuvel service ace.

BSU would take the third set and then would battle down the stretch in the fourth set and would pick up the win with a kill from Yost and a Kelci Green attack error.

In set five, the Golden Eagles would take the last four points led by three kills from Pearson down the stretch as UMC picked up the win.

The Golden Eagles will wrap up their home slate this weekend as they host University of Sioux Falls Fri., Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. and No. 8 Southwest Minnesota State University Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. The matches will be the last at home for seniors Looker, Morgan VanGerpen (Sr., MH, Overland Park, Kan./Elementary Education) and Mary Mikutowski (Sr., Lib., Stillwater, Minn./Health Science).

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.
 
Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.
 
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).