CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston battled back after losing the first set to defeat Bemidji State 3-1 (25-27, 28-26, 25-19, 25-23) to win their third-consecutive match. The meeting was the third between the two schools located just 88 miles down U.S. Highway 2 from one another. UMC and BSU played twice in conference play and once in Sioux Falls, S.D. for a non-conference match.

The Golden Eagles take the series 2-1, winning both conference matches against the Beavers. The match was played Tuesday night at Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston, Minn.

Minnesota Crookston improves to 9-11 (5-7 NSIC) on the season. They continue to sit in ninth place. Bemidji State falls to 7-14 (3-9 NSIC) with Tuesday's loss.

Minnesota Crookston was led on the night by 17 kills from Kassi Green (R-Jr., OH, Anoka, Minn.), who hit .111 on the match. Kelci Green (R-Jr., MH, Anoka, Minn.) had a stellar night with 13 kills and a .440 hitting percentage with just two errors on the evening. Maggie Perrel (R-Jr., OH, New Germany, Minn.) tallied 16 kills and hit .130 for the match.

Sierra Trost (Sr., S, Ham Lake, Minn.) had a strong match with 53 assists for 13.3 assists per set. She helped lead the team to a .213 hitting percentage with 63 kills and 26 errors. Minnesota Crookston had their strongest set in the third frame with 17 kills and just five errors with a .286 hitting percentage, helped by Trost's play at the setter position.

Defensively, Ali Schueler (R-Fr., Lib., Howards Grove, Wis.) had a strong night with 26 digs for 6.5 digs per set. Perrel completed a double-double with 18 digs, while Trost also had a double-double with 11 digs. On the block, UMC looked to Kelci Green with three block assists.

Bemidji State hit .233 on the match with 58 kills and 20 errors on the match. BUS was led by 14 kills apiece from Jessica Yost and Amanda Tronick. The two Bemidji State seniors, who have led the Beavers offensively for the last four season. Julie Touchett chipped in 11 kills with a .259 hitting percentage, benefiting from the UMC block playing Tronick and Yost.

At setter, freshman Shelby Haney had 46 assists. Defensively, Tronick completed a double-double with 20 digs, while Yost also had a double-double with 18 digs. Emma Hallmann added 17 digs, while Haney had 10.

On the block, Bemidji State was paced by five block assists from Touchett, who had a strong match for the Beavers.

This is the first season for BSU under Head Coach Kevin Ulmer.

Minnesota Crookston struggled out of the gate on Tuesday. The Golden Eagles would make it interesting late in the first set but would fall 27-25 after a Tronick kill and a Kali Erickson (Sr., OH, Fargo, N.D.) attack error.

UMC and BSU would have another highly contested frame in set two. BSU would get out to a 20-14 lead on Minnesota Crookston in the set. However, UMC would battle back and take the next seven points to knot it up 20-20 led by three kills from Kassi Green. BSU and UMC would be knotted up 26-26. A Kelli Auer service error from Bemidji State and a Trost kill would deliver the set 28-26 for UMC to knot up the match 1-1.

The Golden Eagles would control the third set out of the gate. UMC would take the third set, 25-19 following an Erickson kill.

In the fourth set, BSU would get within one point at 24-23 after a kill from Tronick, but a Kelci Green kill would seal the deal for UMC 25-23 to take the match 3-1.

The Golden Eagles will look to continue to build on their momentum as they head down south for tough matches against University of Sioux Falls and No. 2 Southwest Minnesota State University.

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.