CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team will host No. 8 Wayne State College Fri., Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. and No. 7 Augustana University Sat., Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. in a pair of home matches at Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston, Minn.

Minnesota Crookston
The Golden Eagles enter the weekend with a 9-13 (5-9 NSIC) mark on the 2016 season. UMC is currently tied for ninth in the conference standings and are only three games out of the Top 8 in the NSIC, which advance to the NSIC Tournament. However, UMC has a tough road ahead with four of their final six matches against teams ranked in the Top 10.

The Golden Eagles have looked to Maggie Perrel (R-Jr., OH, New Germany, Minn.) to lead the way with 3.42 kill and 2.53 digs per set. In addition to Perrel, UMC has gotten strong play out of Kelci Green (R-Jr., MH, Anoka, Minn.) and Kassi Green (R-Jr., OH, Anoka, Minn.). Kelci Green enters the weekend averaging 2.24 kills per set and hitting .325, while her twin sister Kassi Green is tallying 2.54 kills per set and hitting .155.

At setter, Sierra Trost (Sr., S, Ham Lake, Minn.) leads the way with 9.87 assists per set on the season. Trost has helped the Golden Eagles to a .175 hitting percentage this season with 15.3 kills per set. Trost is also tallying 2.43 digs per set on the season.

Defensively, Ali Schueler (R-Fr., Lib., Howards Grove, Wis.) leads the way with 3.97 digs per set. On the block, UMC looks to Kelci Green's 0.66 blocks per set and Callie Schapekahm's (So., MH, Eagan, Minn.) 0.55 blocks per set.
UMC is limiting opponents to 14.9 kills per set and a .216 hitting percentage on the year. 

Wayne State
Wayne State enters Friday with a record of 17-6 (8-6 NSIC) on the season and a No. 8 national ranking. The Wildcats split last weekend with a loss to No.1 University of Minnesota Duluth and a win over St. Cloud State University.

Wayne State is averaging 12.3 kills per set and hitting .225 on the season. The Wildcats have been led by Michaela Mestl, who is averaging 2.94 kills per set and hitting .184. Wayne State has two others players averaging over 2.00 kills per set. Alyssa Frauendorfer is tallying 2.79 kills per set and hitting .314, while Erin Gross is averaging 2.24 kills per set and hitting .217.

At setter, Megan Gebhardt leads the way with 9.72 assists per set, while averaging 1.96 digs per set.

Defensively, Wayne State looks to Mestl's 4.31 digs per set, along with Haley Kauth's 4.31 digs per set. On the block, Frauendorfer is tallying 0.83 blocks per set, while Gross is averaging 0.81 blocks per set.

Augustana
The Vikings are 20-4 (11-3 NSIC) on the 2016 season. Augustana is currently ranked No. 7 nationally.

The Vikings have been led by University of North Dakota transfer Courtney Place, who is averaging 3.38 kills per set and hitting .241. In addition to Place, Bailey Koch is averaging 2.35 kills per set and hitting .364, while Hanna Justesen is averaging 2.20 kills per set and Ashley Wilson is tallying 2.13 kills per set.
At setter, Augustana looks to Anna Sykora's 11.47 assists per set. She has led the Vikings to 14.1 kills per set and a .248 hitting percentage.

Defensively, Augustana is led by libero Tahlyr Banks, who is averaging 5.28 digs per set, while Brittany Cech is averaging 3.39 digs per set. On the block, the Vikings look to Koch's 1.14 blocks per set, while Wilson is averaging 0.79 blocks per frame.