MOORHEAD, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team fought back from down 2-0 to Minnesota State University Moorhead to force a fifth set, but they would fall 3-2 (25-16, 25-23, 23-25, 27-29, 15-11). The Golden Eagles were led on the day by one of the best matches of her career from Kassi Green (R-Jr., OH, Anoka, Minn.), who had 20 kills and hit .326.

The Golden Eagles fall to 6-11 (2-7 NSIC) after two strong matches but tough losses to MSU Moorhead and No. 14 Northern State University. The Dragons improve to 8-9 (3-6 NSIC) with the victory.

In addition to Kassi Green, Maggie Perrel (R-Jr., OH, New Germany, Minn.) added 18 kills as UMC had strong balance on the day. Kali Erickson (Sr., OH, Fargo, N.D.) chipped in 13 kills, while Kelci Green (R-Jr., MH, Anoka, Minn.) had 11.

The Golden Eagles would hit .166 on the match as they had 64 kills and 31 errors. Sierra Trost (Sr., S, Ham Lake, Minn.) would finish with an impressive 60 assists for an average of 12 helpers per set.

Defensively the Golden Eagles had three players with over 20 digs. Ali Schueler (R-Fr., Lib., Howards Grove, Wis.) concluded a strong weekend with 28 digs. Perrel added 24, while Trost completed a double-double with 20 digs.

On the block, Kelci Green led the way with four block assists and one solo block, while her twin sister Kassi Green had four block assists.

MSU Moorhead looked to 16 kills from Carly Masloski, who hit .164 for the match. Tyann Caspers added 12 kills and hit .278, while Sarah Hagler and Taylor Liesemeyer each had 11 kills.

At setter, Makayla Wenzel paced the Dragons with 53 assists, while MSU Moorhead hit .206 with 61 kills and 20 attack errors.

Defensively, Monica Vega was on the top of her game with 44 digs, while Wenzel and Courtney Selbitschka each had 12 digs.

The Dragons would get out to a 5-2 advantage after an Erickson attack error for the Golden Eagles. MSU Moorhead would extend their advantage to 10-4 on a Perrel attack error. The Golden Eagles would be able to storm back into the fray and get within 12-9 on a Kelci Green kill. However, MSU Moorhead would answer with a four-point streak culminating in a Masloski kill to go up 16-9 on Minnesota Crookston.

UMC would not go away in the first frame as they would close to within four points at 16-13 after a kill from Kassi Green and a bad set from Hagler. The Dragons would regain control 19-13 following an Erickson attack error. Yet again UMC would not give in as they would close to within 20-16 on a Hagler service error. The Dragons would be able to take the first set 25-16 on a service ace from Katie Meyers.

The Golden Eagles would struggle on the attack with seven kills and 12 errors as they hit -.147. Kassi Green would lead the way with four kills.

UMC would fall behind 3-1 in the second set but would respond to knot it up 3-3 on a Selbitschka attack error. The Golden Eagles would take a 5-4 lead on a Kelci Green kill and would extend their advantage to 6-4 as her twin sister Kassi Green powered a kill to make it 6-4. UMC would build their lead to 11-8 on a Kassi Green kill off the MSU Moorhead block and she follow suit with three service aces to make it 14-8 Golden Eagles. The Golden Eagles would lead 22-13 after a Kassi Green kill.

However, MSU Moorhead would come storming back and would take 12 of the last 13 points culminating with a Caspers kill to take the second set 25-23.

The Golden Eagles hit .064 through the first two sets. UMC looked to Kassi Green's eight kills and .235 hitting percentage. Erickson and Perrel both added four kills apiece.

In the third set, UMC would get out to an 8-4 advantage on a kill from Kelci Green. The Dragons would get within 11-9 on a Hagler kill, but UMC would bounce back and go up 13-9 on an attack error from Masloski attack error. The Golden Eagles would lead 20-16 after a Kassi Green kill. The Dragons would get within 22-21 following a Selbitschka kill. This time UMC would be able to fend off the comeback as they took the frame 25-23 on a Perrel kill.

In the fourth set, UMC would be down 22-19 following a Masloski kill. The Golden Eagles would respond and would knot it up 23-23 on a clutch kill from Perrel. The Golden Eagles would go back-and-forth with the Dragons for the next nine points until back-to-back kills from Kassi Green and Maggie Perrel would deliver the frame to UMC 29-27 to force the fifth set.

MSU Moorhead would get out to the 10-5 advantage in the fifth set after back-to-back-to-back kills from Taylor Liesemeyer. UMC would fight back into the fray as they got within three points at 11-8 on a Kassi Green kill as she continued her strong performance. The Golden Eagles would pull within 12-11 on a Trost service ace. The Dragons would hold on with big kills from Selbitschka.

Minnesota Crooskton will return to action for a homecoming tilt Fri., Oct. 14 against University of Mary at 6 p.m.