Minnesota Crookston at Sioux Falls, Oct. 21, 7 p.m.
Stewart Center, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Live Stats- http://www.sidearmstats.com/siouxfalls/wvball/
Live Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/siouxfalls/
Radio - 1260 KROX AM (Chris Fee, Play by Play)
Minnesota Crookston at No. 2 Southwest Minnesota State, Oct. 22, 3 p.m.
PE Gym, Marshall, Minn.
Live Stats- http://www.sidearmstats.com/smsu/wvball/
Live Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/smsu/
CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team will hit the road for a pair of key matches this weekend against University of Sioux Falls Fri., Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. and versus No. 2 Southwest Minnesota State University Sat., Oct. 22 at 4 p.m.
The Golden Eagles have won three-consecutive matches and are currently in ninth place with a 9-11 (5-7 NSIC) mark on the season. Minnesota Crookston is just one game back of Sioux Falls in eighth place. The Cougars are 12-8 (6-6 NSIC) coming into Friday. Sioux Falls defeated UMC 3-0 in non-conference play Sept. 10. Southwest Minnesota State is ranked No. 2 nationally. The Mustangs are second in the conference standings with a 17-3 (11-1 NSIC) record.
Minnesota Crookston
Minnesota Crookston is coming off home wins against Minot State University, University of Mary and Bemidji State University. The victories were crucial in getting UMC back in the hunt for the NSIC Tournament, which takes the Top 8 teams in the NSIC.
During the last three matches, UMC is averaging 14.9 kills per set and hitting .225 as a team. In addition, they are tallying 13.9 assists per set and limiting opponents to 11.5 kills per set and a .160 hitting percentage.
The Golden Eagles have been led this season by the play of
Maggie Perrel (R-Jr., OH, New Germany, Minn.), who is averaging 3.48 kills per set and hitting .135 for the season. She has been aided as of late by the improvement from
Kelci Green (R-Jr., MH, Anoka, Minn.) and
Kassi Green (R-Jr., OH, Anoka, Minn.).
Kassi Green comes in averaging 2.54 kills per set and is hitting .157, while
Kelci Green is averaging 2.34 kills per set and hitting .342 on the season.
At setter,
Sierra Trost (Sr., S, Ham Lake, Minn.) is on the peak of her game as she is averaging 10.10 assists per set. Trost has helped UMC to 12.25 kills per set and a .180 hitting percentage. She is closing in on No. 2 all-time for career assists, needing 141 assists to surpass Cassie Yates.
Defensively,
Ali Schueler (R-Fr., Lib., Howards Grove, Wis.) leads the way for UMC with 3.97 digs per set. Both Trost and Perrel are tallying 2.54 digs per set to aid UMC's defense, which is limiting opponents to 11.4 kills per set this season.
Sioux Falls
The Cougars are 12-8 (6-6 NSIC) on the season. They are coming off losses to two of the top three teams in the country, falling 3-1 to No. 2 Southwest Minnesota State and 3-0 to No. 3 Concordia University-St. Paul.
Sioux Falls has been led on the season by Makenna Rockeman's 4.03 kills per set. She is hitting .205 on the season. Rockeman is joined on the attack by Lexi Scotts 2.60 kills per set and .342 hitting percentage at middle hitter. Bria Barfknecht, who can play both middle blocker and outside hitter, has added 2.36 kills per set and is hitting .272 on the season.
At setter, Sydney Schaap leads the way with 9.54 assists per set. She has helped the Cougars to 12.82 kills per set and a .233 hitting percentage on the season.
Defensively, USF looks to Abby Folk's 3.60 digs per set. They have limited opponents to 11.49 kills per set and a .186 hitting percentage. On the block, Jordan Calef leads the way with 1.24 blocks per set, while Scott is tallying 1.01 blocks per set. As a team, Sioux Falls is averaging 2.43 blocks per set.
Southwest Minnesota State
The Mustangs come into the weekend ranked No. 2 nationally with a 17-3 mark and 11-1 conference record. SMSU is averaging an amazing 15.1 kills per set and hitting an astounding .319 as a team.
The Mustangs are led by the play of middle blocker Taylor Reiss, who is averaging 5.03 kills per set and hitting .316 on the season. Middle blocker Eisha Oden adds 3.13 kills per set and is hitting .420 on the year, while middle blocker Sarah Parker is tallying 2.90 kills per set and outside hitter Kaylee Burmeister is averaging 2.60 kills per set.
At setter, Megan Larson is the straw that stirs the drink with her 12.74 assists per set.
Defensively, SMSU looks to Amber Messner's 4.44 digs per set, while Burmeister is averaging 3.10 digs per set. The Mustangs are limiting opponents to a 11.32 digs per set averaging, while keeping them to a .165 hitting percentage. Their defense is aided by their block which is led by Parker's 0.96 blocks per set and Oden's 0.90 blocks per set.
