Box Score Post-Game Interview with Lee Anderson
Game Highlights

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team fell to 7-2 (1-1 NSIC) as they fell 3-0 (25-15, 25-23, 25-17) to No. 22 Augustana College (S.D.) in their home opener Friday night at Lysaker Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles had a strong crowd supporting them as they opened their home slate but were unable to overcome their errors on the day while Augustana got a strong performance from Ashley Wilson with 12 kills and a .526 hitting percentage.

UMC struggled out of the gate defensively as they went down 14-5 early on. UMC made the switch defensively and started utilizing Casey Cashman (So., DS/Lib., Ashland, Wis./Natural Resources) and Becca Vandenheuvel (Fr., DS/Lib., Cannon Falls, Minn./Elementary Education) and were able to make things interesting but still fell 25-15 in the set. Brittany Looker (Sr., OH, Rochester, Minn./Health Science) struggled in the frame with just two kills and five errors. UMC hit -.028 in the first set while Augustana hit .200 led by five kills from Courtney Ysker.

In the second set, UMC had an 18-16 lead but Augustana guided by the play of Wilson was able to take the set 25-23.

UMC had some good moments in third set, as well, but the Vikings were able to win 25-17.

The Golden Eagles were led by Kassi Green (R-Fr., Anoka, Minn/Elementary Education.), who had 10 kills and hit .174 for the match. Looker would finish with nine kills and nine errors on the match. Stephanie Pearson (Jr., OH, Frankfort, Ill./Accounting) played well with six kills and a .222 hitting percentage. Setter Sierra Trost (So., Ham Lake, Minn./Health Science) finished the match with 28 assists. 

Defensively, Looker would lead the way with 13 digs, while Trost added nine and Pearson had eight. On the block, Trost led the way with four block assists.

Augustana was led by Wilson's 12 kills as they hit .231 on the match. Ysker added eight kills, as did Bailey Koch. Marissa Johnson had 22 assists to lead the Vikings. Defensively, libero Tahylr Banks had a strong match with some highlight reel saves as she had 13 digs. Johnson added 10. Becca Finley led the block with one solo block and four block assists.

UMC's NSIC gauntlet against ranked foes continues as they host No. 19 Wayne State College (Neb.) tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium.

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).