BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team picked up their first win of the season with a 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-23) victory over Lake Superior State University. The match was their second game of the 2016 Ferris State Invitational at Jim Wink Arena in Big Rapids, Mich. The Golden Eagles improve to 1-1 and end Friday with a split.

Minnesota Crookston hit .204 on the match, rebounding from their first match struggles against Grand Valley State University. The Golden Eagles looked to Maggie Perrel (R-Jr., OH, New Germany, Minn.), who hit .269 on the match with nine kills and six digs. Sabrina Leuer (So., RS, Hamel, Minn.) also had a strong match putting on a showing in her first start of her career. Leuer hit .333 with six kills.

Kassi Green (R-Jr., OH, Anoka, Minn.) also had six kills and chipped in nine digs with seven service aces. The Golden Eagles would tally 14 service aces on the match.

At setter, Sierra Trost (Sr., S, Ham Lake, Minn.) led the way with 24 assists. Defensively, Ali Schueler (R-Fr., Lib., Howards Grove, Wis.) started at libero and tallied eight digs. Kaycie Hagen (Jr., S/DS, Savage, Minn.) chipped in seven digs. Callie Schapekahm (So., MH, Eagan, Minn.) and Kassi Green led the block with three block assists.

Lake Superior State was led by Caitlyn Kane with five kills, while Jena Tulestke added four kills. Madison Castle led the Lakers with eight assists. The Lakers hit .032 on the match.

Defensively, Justice Kjolhede led the way with 11 digs.

The Golden Eagles would take a 6-5 lead early on following a powerful Maggie Perrel kill. However, Lake Superior State would come back with four-straight points to take the 9-7 advantage. UMC would be able to knot up the first set as Schapekahm and Kassi Green came away with a stuff block to make it 10-10. 

The Golden Eagles would continue their run and make it 13-10 as Kassi Green had a big kill down the line.  UMC would continue to build their lead and they make it 22-13 on a Kelci Green kill. UMC would take the first set 25-15 on a Lake Superior State service error.

The Golden Eagles would take a 4-0 lead out of the gate in the second set over the Lakers. They would keep the lead at 7-3 after a strong kill off the right side from Sabrina Leuer. The Golden Eagles would extend their lead to 15-9 on a Kassi Green service ace. UMC would continue to build their advantage over the Lakers and take a 21-10 advantage with a Leuer kill. The Golden Eagles would win the set 25-13.

UMC had a strong second set offensively with nine kills and a .316 hitting percentage.

UMC would be led through the first two sets by Leuer, who had four kills and hit .800. Sierra Trost led the team with seven assists.

Lake Superior State looked to two kills from Elizaeth Ballor.

The Lakers would come out strong in the first set and would take an 8-5 lead on the Golden Eagles after a Caitlyn Kane kill. The Golden Eagles would be able to knot up the game at 10-10 on a Trost service ace as they made a comeback. A Schapekahm kill from the middle would give the Golden Eagles the 11-10 advantage. The Golden Eagles would extend their lead to 14-11 on a Kassi Green service ace.

The Lakers would get within one at 20-19 after a Ballor kill following a long rally. The Golden Eagles would regain control at 22-19 following a Lake Superior State hitting error. UMC would take the set and the match 25-23 and 3-0 on a Leuer kill despite a late charge by the Lakers.

The Golden Eagles will return to action at 8:30 a.m. C.T. against California State University-San Bernardino.