Women's Volleyball 9/22/2016 9:25:00 PM Shawn Smith, Sports Information Director

Golden Eagles Set For Home Tilts Against No.1 Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State

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CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team will play host to No. 1 Concordia University, St. Paul and Minnesota State University, Mankato this weekend at Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston, Minn. The Golden Eagles enter the weekend with a 5-6 (1-2 NSIC) mark on the season.

The Golden Eagles will play Concordia-St. Paul Fri., Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium and will then take on Minnesota State Sat., Sept. 24 at 4 p.m.

Minnesota Crookston
Minnesota Crookston is coming off perhaps their best match of the season with a 3-0 sweep of Bemidji State University on Tuesday. The Golden Eagles have been led on the season by Maggie Perrel (R-Jr., OH, New Germany, Minn.) is coming off one of her best showings of her career with 20 kills in a three-set match as she hit .349 to help UMC over BSU. Perrel is averaging 3.19 kills and 2.43 digs per set on the season.

In addition to Perrel, Kelci Green (R-Jr., MH, Anoka, Minn.) continues to improve and give Minnesota Crookston other attacking options up front. Green is averaging 2.24 kills and 0.68 blocks per set on the season. Callie Schapekahm (So., MH, Eagan, Minn.) and Kelci's twin sister Kassi Green (R-Jr., OH, Anoka, Minn.) have also given UMC options in their attack.

Schapekahm is averaging 1.97 kills per set, as is Kassi Green.

At setter, Sierra Trost (Sr., S, Ham Lake, Minn.) is in her fourth season as a starter. Trost is helping the Golden Eagles to a .186 hitting percentage on the season. Trost is tallying 9.43 assists per set on the season. She is coming off 41 assists in three sets against Bemidji State Tuesday.

Defensively, UMC has been led by their libero Ali Schueler (R-Fr., DS/Lib., Howards Grove, Wis.), who continues to come into her own. Schueler is averaging 3.63 digs per set on the season. She is helping limit opponents to a .192 hitting percentage on the season. On the block, UMC looks to Kelci Green's 0.68 blocks per set.

Concordia-St. Paul
Concordia-St. Paul comes into the weekend with an unblemished 11-0 record, which includes starting 3-0 in league play. The Golden Bears look to have the best chance to get back to the National Title game after two years removed from their seven-straight National Championships.

Concordia-St. Paul is a veteran squad with six seniors in the starting line-up. The Golden Bears have a potent attack that is averaging 15.57 kills per set and hitting .332. Concordia-St. Paul has three players currently averaging over three kills a set. Leading the way is Riley Hanson with 3.49 kills per set, while Anna Schlaak and Emma Lange are both tallying 3.06 kills per set.

At setter, Kasey Williams is the straw that stirs the drink as she is averaging 13.17 assists per set on the season.

Defensively, the Golden Bears look to the play of former outside hitter Emily McDonough, who is averaging 4.43 digs per set at libero. The Concordia-St. Paul defense is limiting opponents to a .131 hitting percentage on the year. On the block, the Golden Bears look to Shelby Seurer's 1.17 blocks per set.

Minnesota State
Minnesota State comes into the weekend with a 7-4 record on the season. They are 1-2 in conference play. The Mavericks are in their second season under long-time assistant Lori Rittenhouse-Wollmuth.

Minnesota State is averaging 12.57 kills per set on the season, while hitting .217. The Mavericks are led by Krista Hassing's 3.75 kills per set and .365 hitting percentage. In addition to Hassing, Sydney Geisness is hitting 2.84 kills per set.

At setter, the Mavericks are led by Autumn Risch's 10.1 assists per set.

Defensively, Minnesota State looks to libero Haley Fogarty and her 5.30 digs per set. On the block, the Mavericks are paced by Hassing's 0.93 blocks per set.