4 p.m. - vs. Southwest Baptist - Sanford Practice Gymnasium4 p.m. - vs. Southwest Baptist - Sanford Practice Gymnasium

CROOKSTON, Minn.- The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team will trek to their second tournament of the season as they head to Sioux Falls, S.D. for the Augustana Showcase hosted by Augustana University. The Golden Eagles will get four matches in Sioux Falls as they face Northwest Missouri State University and Black Hills State University Fri., Sept. 11 and No. 8 Grand Valley State University and Southwest Baptist University Sat., Sept. 12.

Previewing UMC
The Minnesota Crookston volleyball team got off to a great start on the 2015 season as they went 3-1 on the weekend at the Bentley University Invitational with their only loss coming to No. 17 Florida Southern College. The Golden Eagles were led by the play of senior Stephanie Pearson (OH, Frankfort, Ill.), who tallied three double-doubles on the weekend (kills and digs). Pearson averaged 3.27 kills and 3.57 digs per set on the
weekend. Pearson's strongest match came against 2014 NCAA Tournament participant University of New Haven. The Golden Eagles also got strong play from right-side hitter Maggie Perrel (R-So., New Germany, Minn.). Perrel had a strong freshman season in 2013, but did not play volleyball last season. Perrel averaged 2.60 kills and 2.73 digs per set.

At setter, Sierra Trost (Jr., Ham Lake, Minn.) is in her third season as the starter for Coach Lee Anderson's squad. Trost is averaging 10 assists per set. Trost has also been key defensively, averaging 3.53 digs per set. Kaycie Hagen (So., S/DS, Savage, Minn.) was also a key to UMC's defense. Hagen served as a setter in the 6-2 system last year, but is working more as a defensive specialist in 2015, so far. Hagen averaged 2.53 digs per set. Libero Casey Cashman (Jr., Ashland, Wis.) started the first weekend at the key position. Cashman
 averaged 2.93 digs per set.

On the block, Erin Schwarz (Jr., MH, Eden Prairie, Minn.) led the team with 0.93 blocks per set, while Kelci Green (R-So., MH, Anoka, Minn.) averaged 0.67 blocks per set.

Northwest Missouri State

Northwest Missouri State has opened the seaso nwith a 4-0 mark. The Bearcats went 11-19 during the 2014 season. The Golden Eagles will face Northwest Missouri State at 10 a.m. at the Sanford Practice Gymnasium in Sioux Falls, S.D. Northwest Missouri State has been led by Maddy Bruder, who is averaging 3.62 kills per set and hitting .302 on the season. Bruder is also averaging 2.46 digs per set. Miranda Foster comes in averaging 2.77 kills per set and 1.92 digs per set, while Jackie Becker is averaging 2.46 kills per set and 0.62 blocks per set.

At setter, Sarah Dannettell is averaging 9.77 assists per set. She has helped lead the Beacats to a .246 hitting percentage.

Defensively, Shelby Duren is averaing 3.00 digs per set, while Aarika Wittenburg is averaing 4.15 digs per set. On the block, Alexis Williams is averaging 0.92 blocks per set.

Black Hills State

The Yellow Jackets have started the year with a 2-2 mark with wins over Missouri Southern State and Pittsburg State. Black Hills State has been led by Danielle Torpey, who is averaging 3.43 kills per set. 6-1 middle hitter Shelby Meyer comes in averaging 2.29 kills and 0.79 blocks per set, while 6-1 right-side hitter Cassidy Steele is averaging 2.21 kills per set.

At setter, Brynn Eckhardt is averaing 10 assists and three digs per set. Defensively, Lacy Stevens is averaging 4.50 digs per set, while Chloe Zimmer is averaging 2.07 digs per set. On the block, Meyer leads the way with 0.79 blocks per set.

The Golden Eagles will face the Yellow Jackets Fri., Sept. 11 at 4 p.m. at Sanford Practice Gymnasium.

Grand Valley State

The Golden Eagles will take on No. 8 Grand Valley State Sat., Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. The Lakers are 3-1 with their only loss coming to Concordia-Portland. Grand Valley State went to the NCAA Tournament last season where they advanced to the semifinals before losing to Southwest Minnesota State University.

Grand Valley State has been led offensively by Staci Brower, who is averaging 3.64 kills per set, while hitting .366 and averaging 0.73 blocks per set. Kaleigh Lound comes in averaging 2.85 kills and 1.54 blocks per set, while Brooke Smith is averaging 2.08 kills and 2.54 digs per set.

At setter, Taylor Stewart is averaing 9.15 assists and 2.62 digs per set. The Lakers are hitting .200 for the season. Defensively, Taylor Shomin leads the way with 5.92 digs per set, while Kourtney Wolters is averaging 3.62 digs per set.

Southwest Baptist

Southwest Baptist is 1-3 on the season with their only win coming over Kentucky Wesleyan College. The Bearcats went 10-20 on the 2014 season. Southwest Baptist has been led by Taryn Morton, who is averaging 3.00 kills and 1.08 digs per set. Dana Neal comes ina veraging 2.71 kills per set.

At setter, Southwest Baptist has utilized two players. Anna Stuehm leads the way with 5.31 assists per set, while Brea Freeman is averaging 4.71 assists per set. Defensively, Hannah Blount leads the way with 4.15 assists per set, while the block is averaged by Kate Robinson, who is averaging 0.82 blocks per set, while Payton White is averaging 0.73 blocks per set.

The Golden Eagles face the Bearcats at 4 p.m. at the Sanford Practice Gymnasium


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 a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. UMC sponsors 11 intercollegiate athletic teams with membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference (NSIC) and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The NSIC is a 16-team conference with schools situated in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.
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