Box Score CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team fell 3-1 to Bemidji State University Tues., Oct. 20 at BSU Gymnasium in Bemidji, Minn. The Golden Eagles took the first set but would give up a lead in the second set and struggle in sets three and four, as they fell for the second time this season to their rivals from just 88 miles down the road. UMC has now lost five-straight matches as they fall to 7-13 (3-9 NSIC). Bemidji State improved to 5-16 (3-9 NSIC) with Tuesday's win.

Minnesota Crookston was led by a strong performance from Maggie Perrel (R-So., RS, New Germany, Minn.), who finished with 18 kills and a .120 hitting percentage. Stephanie Pearson (Sr., OH, Frankfort, Ill.) had eight kills. Sierra Trost (Jr., S, Ham Lake, Minn.) would finish with 32 assists. Defensively, the Golden Eagles finished with four players with 10 or more digs. Casey Cashman (Jr., DS/Lib., Ashland, Wis.) led the way with 15 digs, while Trost added 12 kills, as did Pearson. Perrel had 10. On the block, Schwarz led the way with three block assists.

Bemidji State was led by 20 kills from Jessica Yost, who hit a strong .327 for the match. Kori Leist added 10 kills and hit .300. BSU would hit .169 for the match. Ashley Kiecker had 378 assists. Defensively, Kayla DeJong led the way with 26 digs, while Amanda Tronick added 14 digs. On the block, Leist and Tronick both had one solo block and three block assists.

The Golden Eagles would be down by as much as 19-14 in the first set. UMC would crawl back to get within 19-18 after four-straight BSU attack errors.

Four-straight UMC points led by two Beaver attack errors, a kill from Perrel and a kill by Kelci Green would lead the Golden Eagles to a 25-23 set one win.

Minnesota Crookston was led by five kills from Perrel on the set. UMC hit just .047 on the set but late attack errors from Bemidji State would aid the Golden Eagles. Pearson added three kills in the first set. Trost had nine assists, while Perrel had five digs and Schwarz had three block assists.

In set two, UMC would get out to a 7-2 lead early on. They were led early on by five kills from Kassi Green (R-So., OH, Anoka, Minn.), who was in some of her best form of the season early on in the set. BSU would close to within 17-16 after a kill from Jessica Yost. The Beavers would knot up the score 22-22 on a Kassi Green attack error. Bemidji State would take the lead on a Perrel attack error and would extend the lead to 24-22. The Beavers would take the set 25-23 after a Kori Leist kill.

The Beavers would get out to a 9-1 lead over the Golden Eagles in the third set. They would extend their lead to 13-2. Bemidji State would take the set 25-15. Minnesota Crookston struggled in the set with just six kill and six errors as they hit .000 for the match. Bemidji State would hit a dominant .345 with 13 kills and three errors in the set.

BSU continued their momentum as they took an early 4-0 advantage in set four. They would extend their lead to 7-1 on a Courtney Fox service ace. The Golden Eagles would be able to climb back in the game and would get within 14-12 on a Hailey Kauling error and a Perrel kill. An Alyssa Muelken (So., MH, Savage, Minn.) kill would get UMC within 14-13 and the Golden Eagles would tie it up on a bad set from Jessica Yost. The Beavers would take control back with four-straight points led by kills from Yost and Tronick. A bad set from Kiecker would allow the Golden Eagles to knot it up again at 20-20. The Beavers would take the set 25-22 and the match 3-1 after a Pearson attack error.

The Golden Eagles will return to action as they continue on their road trip as they take on Winona State University Fri., Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. and Upper Iowa University Sat., Oct. 24 at 4 p.m.