CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team enters the weekend with a 5-6 (2-3 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles currently find themselves in a tie for seventh in the NSIC in a very congested middle of the pack in the nation's top NCAA Division II volleyball conference. The Golden Eagles will hit the road this weekend for a pair of games in Southern part of the conference.

Minnesota Crookston will take on Upper Iowa University Fri., Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. at Dorman Gymnasium in Fayette, Iowa. They will then battle No. 7 Winona State University Sat., Oct. 1 at 4 p.m. in Winona, Minn.

Minnesota Crookston
The Golden Eagles are coming off one of their strongest weeks of the season as they went 2-1 with wins over Bemidji State University and a major 3-2 decision over Minnesota State University Saturday. Minnesota Crookston's key is consistency as they look to build off of last week's performances.

UMC has been led by the play of Maggie Perrel (R-Jr., OH, New Germany, Minn.), who is averaging 3.22 kills and 2.27 digs on the season. Perrel is hitting .142 on the season. The key to UMC though is the consistency of their other hitters. Kelci Green (R-Jr., MH, Anoka, Minn.) comes in averaging 2.29 kills per set and is hitting .325, while averaging 0.64 blocks per set. Her twin sister, Kassi Green (R-Jr., OH, Anoka, Minn.) is tallying 2.00 kills per set and hitting .119. Middle hitter Callie Schapekahm (So., MH, Eagan, Minn.) comes in hitting .391 with a.175 kills and 0.36 blocks per set.

The straw that stirs the drink is senior Sierra Trost (Sr., S, Ham Lake, Minn.), who had a great match against Minnesota State with 53 assists and 21 digs. Trost is averaging 9.36 assists per set this season and has helped the Golden Eagles to a .180 hitting percentage.

Defensively, UMC has been strong of late. UMC is averaging 14.13 digs per set led by the play of libero Ali Schueler (R-Fr., DS/Lib., Howards Grove, Wis.), who continues to improve with more experience. Schueler is averaging 3.60 digs per set. Casey Cashman (Sr., DS, Ashland, Wis.) is also coming off a strong weekend. Cashman is averaging 1.47 digs per set in her role off of the bench for UMC.

Upper Iowa
The Peacocks are 7-7 (1-4 NSIC) entering Friday's contest. They are in their fourth season under Head Coach Aaron Nelson.

Upper Iowa has three players consistently averaging over 2.00 kills per set. The Peacocks are led by Alisha VanderWoude's 2.46 kills and .318 hitting percentage from the right side. Chelsea Berry comes in averaging 2.15 kills, while Anna Winter is averaging 2.10 kills per set.

The Peacocks are hitting .191 as a team. They have used two setters this season with Malissa LeClaire leading the way with 5.94 assists per set, while Carlee Ketchum is tallying 3.70 digs per set.

Defensively, Upper Iowa has looked to Ashley Larson's 4.00 digs per set. On the block, Lauren Wombles leads the way with 0.82 blocks per set.

Winona State
Winona State is 12-2 (3-2 NSIC) in their third season under Head Coach Joe Getzin. The Warriors have consistently been among the NSIC's best under Getzin.
Winona State has been led by Taylor Goar's 3.86 kills and 3.26 digs per set. In addition to Goar, Lauren Kudronowicz is averaging 2.82 kills per set, while Danielle Rampart is tallying 2.65 kills per set.

At setter, the Warriors have looked to McKenna Larsen's 11.66 assists per set. Larsen is helping Winona State to a .235 hitting percentage on the season.
Defensively, Winona State is limiting opponents to just a .116 hitting percentage. Their effort is led by libero Jamie Cairncross' 5.05 digs per set. On the block, the Warriors look to Maria Wrage's 0.91 blocks per set and Kudronowicz' 0.86 blocks per set.