St. Cloud State (5-4) at Minnesota Crookston (4-)
Sat., Sept. 19 - 4 p.m. - Lysaker Gymnasium, Crookston, Minn.
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/wvball/
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CROOKSTON, Minn.- The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team will open up play at Lysaker Gymnasium Sat., Sept. 19 as they host St. Cloud State University at 4 p.m. The Golden Eagles are coming off a strong performance against No. 1 University of Minnesota Duluth, testing the Bulldogs in all three frames before falling 3-0. The Golden Eagles enter Saturday with a 4-5 (0-1 NSIC) mark, while St. Cloud State is 5-4 (1-0 NSIC).

Minnesota Crookston Preview
The Golden Eagles have become a more balanced team in 2015 after relying a lot on 2015 All-NSIC First Team pick Brittany Looker over the last few years. While Looker is a hard piece to replace, the Golden Eagles have put together a strong attack so far through nine games. UMC has been led by Maggie Perrel (R-So., RS, New Germany, Minn.), who didn't play volleyball last year, but is leading the team with 2.97 kills per set, while also averaging 2.31 digs per set. In addition to Perrel, senior Stephanie Pearson (Sr., OH, Frankfort, Ill.) has stepped up in a big way. Pearson is averaging 2.72 kills per set and a team-leading 4.14 digs per set.

UMC has also relied on middle hitters Erin Schwarz (Jr., MH, Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Kelci Green (R-So., MH, Anoka, Minn.) for added offense, along with Kali Erickson (Jr., OH, Fargo, N.D.). Schwarz is averaging 1.83 kills per set and has been steady on defense with 0.94 blocks per set. Green is averaging 1.89 kills per set and 0.94 blocks per set. Erickson comes in averaging 1.86 kills per set. Schwarz is coming off one of her best matches of her career with eight kills against Minnesota Duluth

At setter, three-year starter Sierra Trost (Ham Lake, Minn.) continues to pace the offense. Trost comes in averaging 9.94 assists per set while leading the team to a 1.65 hitting percentage. She has also been strong defensively, averaging 3.08 digs per set.

Libero was a position open for the taking this season and so far Casey Cashman (Jr., DS/Lib., Cannon Falls, Minn.) has done a strong job at the position. Cashman comes in averaging 3.25 digs per set and had 16 digs against No. 1 UMD on Thursday. Kaycie Hagen (So., DS/S, Savage, Minn.) has also been an integral part of the defense making the transition to defensive specialist this season after serving as a setter in the 6-2 formation last season. Hagen is averaging 2.36 digs per set this season.

St. Cloud State Preview
The Huskies are in their first year under new head coach Chad Braegelmann, who comes over after spending seven years as the head coach at the University of Minnesota Morris. The Huskies are 5-4 coming off a win over Bemidji State University Thursday. St. Cloud State has been led this season by outside hitter Rachel Burke, who comes into Saturday averaging 2.71 kills and 2.79 digs per set. In addition to Burke, senior middle hitter Sophie Jaskulske comes in averaging 2.37 kills and 0.63 blocks per set. Junior right-side hitter Macy Weller has also been a potent part of the attack, averaging 2.29 kills and 0.74 blocks per set.

At setter, the Huskies have utilized two players this season. Allison Buttler has been the starter and has averaged 5.97 assists per set, along with 2.34 digs per set. Marissa Kline has also gotten time at setter, averaging 4.53 assists and 1.18 digs per set.

On the block, middle hitter Kellan Flynn has been strong, averaging 1.03 blocks per set. At libero, Brianne Stamer has led the way with 5.97 digs per set.

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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