SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston fell to Augustana College (S.D.) 3-1 (25-22, 25-22, 26-24, 25-19) Saturday in Sioux Falls, S.D. The match was the last of the season for the Golden Eagles, who finish the year with an 11-17 (5-14 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles showed signs on the season but would lose 5 five-set thrillers on the year.

The match was the last for amazing careers for Brittany Looker (Sr., OH, Rochester, Minn./Health Science), Morgan VanGerpen (Sr., MH/RS, Overland Park, Kan./Elementary Education) and Mary Mikutowski (Sr., Lib., Stillwater, Minn./Health Science). The four won 49 matches in their four years at UMC after joining a team that hadn't won a match the previous season.

Looker ends her career with 1,453 kills, which ranks first all-time and 1,111 digs, which ranks fifth all-time. In addition, she had 136 service aces, which ranks third all-time. Looker was All-NSIC each of her four seasons and was All-NSIC First Team her previous two, joining Joan Ebnet as the only other UMC player to earn that distinguished honor. Looker is also the all-time leader in points at UMC.

VanGerpen finished her career with 281 block assists (third all-time), 334 total blocks (second all-time) and 60 solo blocks (third all-time).

Mikutowski saw her most playing time this season and made the most of it, serving as the team's primary libero. Mikutowski led the team with a 3.72 digs per set average and was second on the team with 257 digs.

On Saturday's match, UMC was led by Looker's 18 kills and 18 digs. Looker ended her career with a strong performance overall, hitting .271 for the match. VanGerpen also put together a strong match with nine kills and a .533 hitting percentage. Mikutowski also had a strong match with 18 digs.

In addition to the seniors, Stephanie Pearson (Jr., OH, Frankfort, Ill./Accounting) had nine kills and hit .194, while Kassi Green (R-Fr., RS, Anoka, Minn./Early Childhood Education) had nine kills and hit .200.

UMC hit .266 for the match with 56 kills and 18 errors. Sierra Trost (So., S, Ham Lake, Minn./Biology) led the team with 28 assists, while Kaycie Hagen (Fr., S, Savage, Minn./Health Science) added 22 assists.

The Golden Eagle block was led by Alyssa Muelken (Fr., MH, Savage, Minn./Undecided), who had four block assists.

Augustana was led by Courtney Ysker's 24 kills and 17 digs. Ysker hit an amazing .412 for the match. In addition, Brittany Cech added 16 kills and hit .273, while Ashley Wilson had 11 kills and hit .241.

At setter, Marissa Johnson paced the Vikings with 53 assists. Augustana hit .268 for the match.

Defensively, Tahlyr Banks led the way for Augustana with 25 digs while Wilson and Bailey Koch led the block with four block assists.

UMC will return 11 players to the team for next year including five starters led by Trost, Green, Pearson, Kelci Green (R-Fr., MH, Anoka, Minn./Biology) and Erin Schwarz (So., MH, Eden Prairie, Minn./Undecided). Hagen also returns, as does Becca Vandenheuvel (Fr., Lib., Cannon Falls, Minn./Elementary Education), who saw time at libero.

The For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website 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).