DULUTH, Minn.- The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team gave everything they possibly could to No. 1 University of Minnesota Duluth, giving them a battle in every set, but the Bulldogs would win 3-0 (25-22, 27-25, 27-25). The Golden Eagles proved that they belonged on the court with the top-ranked UMD squad. The Bulldogs improve to 8-1 (1-0 NSIC), while UMC falls to 4-5 (0-1 NSIC) with the hard-fought loss.

The Golden Eagles were led by the play of Maggie Perrel (R-So., RS, New Germany, Minn.), who led the team with 17 kills in just three sets with a .167 hitting percentage. In addition to Perrel, Erin Schwarz (Jr., MH, Ede Prairie, Minn.) put together one of her best matches in her career with eight kills and a .375 hitting percentage. Stephanie Pearson (Sr., OH, Frankfort, Ill.) had nine kills on the evening.

Sierra Trost (Jr., S, Ham Lake, Minn.) led the team with 38 assists, while leading her team to a .158 hitting percentage. Defensively, Casey Cashman (Jr., Lib., Ashland, Wis.) put together a strong match with 16 digs, while Pearson had 14. Kelci Green (R-So., MH, Anoka, Minn.) led the team with three block assists.

The Bulldogs were led by 2014 AVCA All-American Mariah Scharf, who had 11 kills. Sydnie Mauch aded nine kills and hit .273. At setter, 2014 AVCA All-American and 2014 NSIC Player of the Year Ashley Hinsch had 36 assists as UMD hit .223 for the match.

Defensively, freshman libero Erin Schindler led the team with 14 digs. Mauch led the block with six block assists.

The Golden Eagles would put up a fight from the first set. The Golden Eagles would play close down the stretch down 23-20. UMC would fight back to within 24-22 after an attack error by Scharf and an attack error by Hinsch. UMD would be able to take the set 25-22 after a Sarah Kelly kill.

In the second set, UMC would find themselves down 15-10 to the Bulldogs. UMC would be able to take three of the next four points led by two Kali Erickson kills and a ball handling error for UMD. The Golden Eagles would stick with it and tie things up 18-18 after a Perrel kill. The Golden Eagles wouldn't go away, again tying it up 25-25 after a Schwarz kill. However, UMD would again put the set away led by kills from Hinsch and a Pearson attack error.

The Golden Eagles would start out strong in the third set and would even lead several times in the set, including leading 21-20 late .After going back-and-forth for awhile, UMC would tie things up 25-25 on aSchindler service error. However, UMD would put down two kills to take the 27-25 victory in the set and lead UMD to a 3-0 win in the match.

The Golden Eagles will open up their home slate as they host St. Cloud State University Sat., Sept. 19 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 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.