BISMARCK, N.D.- The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team fell in their second-consecutive five-set match of the week as they battled back against University of Mary but fell 3-2 (22-25, 19-25, 25-23, 25-12, 13-15). The Golden Eagles fall to 5-7 (1-3 NSIC) with the loss, while the Marauders improve to 7-6 (2-2 NSIC) with Friday's win.

The Golden Eagles had an overall balanced offense on Friday and had 52 kills with a .196 hitting percentage. Minnesota Crookston was led by the play of Stephanie Pearson (Sr., OH, Frankfort, Ill.), who had 14 kills with a .263 hitting average. Pearson completed a double-double with 14 digs. Maggie Perrel (R-So., RS,
New Germany, Minn.) finished with 14 kills and 11 digs. Erin Schwarz (Jr., MH, Eden Prairie, Minn.) continued her strong play of late with 11 kills and a .348 hitting percentage.

Sierra Trost (Jr., S, Ham Lake, Minn.) had 46 assists and 13 digs on the evening.

Defensively, Casey Cashman (Jr., Lib., Ashland, Wis.) put together her second-straight 20-dig performance with 21 digs. Kelci Green (R-So., MH, Anoka, Minn.) had a great performance on the block with 11 block assists, while Trost added five.

The Marauders were led by 24 kills from Alexis Jacobs, who finished with a .200 hitting percentage. Thayna Silva added 15 kills. At setter, U-Mary utilized two setters as the team hit .156 for the match. Geovana Almeida had 27 assists, while Katelyn Olson had 25.

Defensively, libero Alex Brown led the way with 20 digs.

The Golden Eagles battled in the first set and were down just 23-22 late, but a kill from Jacobs and a Pearson attack error would give U-Mary the set.

The Marauders controlled the second set for the most part, winning 25-19. U-Mary went on a 7-1 scoring run late in the set.

UMC would come out of the break strong and would be close late against the Marauders, holding a 24-23 lead for set point. A kill from Pearson off a Schwarz assist would deliver the set for UMC 25-23.

The Golden Eagles controlled the fourth set with a 25-12 win including an 11-1 to force a fifth set against the Marauders.

UMC would go toe-to-toe with U-Mary in the fifth set, knotting things up after a Pearson kill to make it 13-13.
 A kill from Jacobs and a Schwarz attack error would allow the Marauders to win the set 15-13 and the match 3-2.

The Golden Eagles have struggled in five-set matches over the last two seasons. UMC is just 4-9 in five-set matches over the last two seasons.

UMC will look to break a two-match losing streak as they take on Minot State University at 3 p.m. Sept. 26.


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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.