BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team played some of their best volleyball in recent years to win the first set Saturday morning but they would ultimately fall 3-1 to No. 20 California State University, San Bernardino. The Coyotes made it to the Regional Finals of the NCAA Tournament in 2015. The Golden Eagles fall to 1-2, despite a strong showing on Saturday morning at the Ewigleben Arena in Big Rapids, Mich., in their third match of the 2016 Ferris State University Invitational.

The Golden Eagles progressively decreased in production offensively, opening up with a .225 hitting percentage in set one. UMC would hit .130 for the match. The Golden Eagles had balance on the match. They were led by 13 kills from Maggie Perrel (R-Jr., OH, New Germany, Minn.). Kassi Green (R-Jr., OH, Anoka, Minn.) added 10 kills, while Kali Erickson (Sr., OH, Fargo, N.D.) had 11 kills.

At setter, Sierra Trost led the way with 34 assists. She chipped in two service aces and had 15 digs.

Defensively, Ali Schueler (R-Fr., Lib., Howards Grove, Wis.) had a strong match at libero with 20 digs. On the block, Kaitlin Sikkink (R-Fr., MH, Saint Charles, Minn.) led the way with five block assists.

Cal State-San Bernardino hit .271 for the match. They were led by Malika O'Brien, who had 15 kills. 6-3 middle hitter Hailey Jackson added 12 kills and had seven block assists, while Lauren Nicholson had 12 kills, as well.
At setter, Jayann DeHoog led the way with 38 assists.

Defensively, Abbey Vollkammer would lead the way with 29 digs. The Coyotes would have 16 block assists on the afternoon, making it difficult for the Minnesota Crookston attackers.

The Coyotes got out to an early 4-1 lead but the Golden Eagles would take the lead first set lead 5-4 after a Schueler service ace. UMC would extend their lead to 7-5 on a Maggie Perrel kill that went off the block.

Cal State-San Bernardino wouldn't go away and the Golden Eagles and Coyotes would trade points for the majority of the first set until Kelci Green (R-Jr., MH, Anoka, Minn.) was able to place an attack in the middle of the Coyote defense to put UMC up 23-21. Minnesota Crookston would take the set 25-23 on a Coyote service error.

Minnesota Crookston would take a 5-1 lead out of the gate on Cal State-San Bernardino with a Perrel kill. The Coyotes would come back to knot it up 5-5. Cal State-San Bernardino would be able to take the lead 9-6 on a Jackson kill. 

Cal State-San Bernardino would extend their lead to 13-9 on a Malika O'Brien kill. The Coyotes would keep building their lead, getting it out to 21-13. The Golden Eagles would make one last charge in the match, cutting the lead to 21-16 on a DeHoog set error. UMC would continue to put pressure on the Coyotes and would get within 24-22 of the No. 20 team in the nation in set two following an Erickson kill and a Cal State-San Bernardino attack error. However, the Coyotes would stave off any further comeback with an O'Brien kill to take set two 25-22.

Cal State-San Bernardino would get out to a 6-2 lead in set three after a DeHoog service ace. The Coyotes build their lead to 17-9.  The Coyotes would take the third set 25-13 as they dominated the majority of the frame.

Through three sets, the Golden Eagles were led by 10 kills apiece from Perrel and Kassi Green. Erickson added nine. Minnesota Crookston hit .159 through the first three sets. Trost led the team with 27 assists, while Schueler led the way with 13 digs and Kaitlin Sikkink had four block assists.

The Coyotes were led through the first three sets by 14 kills from O'Brien and nine from Jackson. DeHoog had 30 assists, while Vollkommer had 19 digs. Jackson led the block with seven block assists.

Cal State-San Bernardino got out to an early 6-2 lead over UMC in the fourth set. The Coyotes would build their advantage to 13-5. The Golden Eagles would cut the lead to 14-9 on a Trost service ace. UMC would continue to close and would get within 19-17 after a Perrel service ace. UMC would get within one point at 20-19 on a Rachel Freund (R-So., OH, Jordan, Minn.) kill. However, Cal State-San Bernardino would get the lead back and would have the 22-19 advantage after an attack error from UMC. The Coyotes would take the set 25-20 and the match despite a strong effort from UMC.

Minnesota Crookston will wrap up play at the Ferris State Invitational at 1:30 p.m. C.T. against West Virginia State University.