CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball program will play host to University of Mary and Minot State University as the Golden Eagles celebrate Homecoming. The Golden Eagles will take on U-Mary Fri., Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. and will face Minot State Sat., Oct. 14 at 4 p.m.
The weekend is a big one for the Golden Eagles, who are coming off four-straight losses despite strong showings against No. 14 Northern State University and Minnesota State University Moorhead last weekend. Minnesota Crookston will look to channel their performance last time at Lysaker Gymnasium when they won 3-2 over Minnesota State University.
Minnesota Crookston
The Golden Eagles come into Friday with a 6-11 (2-7 NSIC) mark. The record is deceiving though as UMC has lost two five-set matches and five matches to nationally ranked teams.
Minnesota Crookston is currently tied for 13
th in the conference standings, however they are just one game out of ninth place as four teams are currently tied for ninth coming into Friday.
The Golden Eagles are hitting .170 as a team coming into Friday with an average of 15.1 kills per set. Minnesota Crookston looks to the play of
Maggie Perrel (R-Jr., OH, New Germany, Minn.), who is averaging 3.25 kills per set this season. Twins
Kassi Green (R-Jr., OH, Anoka, Minn.) and
Kelci Green (R-Jr., MH, Anoka, Minn.) continue to step up their game for UMC. Both players are averaging an identical 2.30 kills per set.
At setter,
Sierra Trost (Sr., S, Ham Lake, Minn.) has been playing very well of late. Trost is averaging 9.75 assists per set. She is second on the team with 25 service aces and also is averaging 2.57 digs per set.
Defensively,
Ali Schueler (R-Fr., Lib., Howards Grove, Wis.) continues to improve in her first season playing in the NSIC. Schueler is averaging 3.93 digs per set on the season.
U-Mary
The Marauders are 8-10 (3-6 NSIC) on the season. They are currently one of the four teams tied for ninth place in the conference standings. U-Mary is in their second season under Head Coach Thais Franca.
The Marauders are averaging 16.0 kills per set and hitting .183 on the season. U-Mary is led on the season by Lauren Randall, who is tallying 4.78 kills per set and hitting .195. In addition to Randall, Thayna Silva is averaging 2.89 kills per set, while Freddie Campbell is taylling 2.02 kills per set.
At setter, U-Mary has relied on Janell Finkbeiner's 8.92 assists per set.
Defensively, the Marauders rely on Alex Brown's 4.18 digs per set. On the block, U-Mary looks to 0.66 blocks per set from Elizabeth Garcia.
Minot State
The Beavers are 5-13 (0-9 NSIC) as they are currently in last place in the conference standings. Minot State is in their second season under Head Coach Ben Kaszeta. Minot State is a very young team with 10 freshmen and sophomores.
Minot State is averaging 9.78 kills per set and hitting just .126 on the season. The Beavers are led by 2.61 kills per set from Emily Falldorf. In addition to Falldorf, Shelby Spuller is tallying 2.60 kills per set, while Hayley Swain is averaging 2.17 kills per set.
At setter, Minot State utilizes Kelsey Dewulf and Janelle Nagy. Dewulf is averaging 5.02 assists per set, while Nagy is tallying 3.40 assists per set.
Defensively, Minot State is led by Cindy Pelo's 4.27 digs per set. The Beavers are led on the block by Swain's 0.82 blocks per set, while Falldorf is averaging 0.65 blocks per set.
