CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team returns home Fri., Oct. 20 and Sat., Oct. 21 for matches against Minnesota State University Moorhead and No. 11 Northern State University. Friday will be Minnesota Crookston's Cancer Awareness Game with the Golden Eagle players sporting warm-up shirts in the color of their choice to represent people in their lives affected by cancer.

Minnesota Crookston will face-off with Red River Valley rival MSU Moorhead Fri., Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium and will remain home Sat., Oct. 21 to take on No. 11 Northern State University Sat., Oct. 21 at 4 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium.

Minnesota Crookston Preview

The Golden Eagles are looking to snap an eight-game skid dating back to a Sept. 19 win over Bemidji State University. Minnesota Crookston has had a difficult schedule during the eight games as five of those contests were against ranked opponents. Minnesota Crookston has continued to improve and they tested Minnesota State University-Mankato last weekend, winning the first set. However, they have struggled to close out sets in the final points and that was the case in the final three sets versus the Mavericks.

Minnesota Crookston comes into Friday, hitting .153 on the season with 190.8 kills per set. Kassi Green (R-Sr., OH, Anoka, Minn.) continues to rank fourth in the league with 3.91 kills per set. Her twin sister Kelci Green (R-Sr., MH, Anoka, Minn.) enters the weekend averaging 2.09 kills per set. In addition, Deaira Gresham (Fr., OH, Maplewood, Minn.) continues to improve for the Golden Eagles. She is tallying 1.56 kills per set. Gresham notched seven kills versus Minnesota State and nine against Concordia University-St. Paul Saturday.

At setter, Kaycie Hagen (Sr., S, Savage, Minn.) comes into Friday averaging 8.43 assists per set.

Defensively, Minnesota Crookston is tallying 15.9 digs per set on the season. Maggie Perrel (R-Sr., Lib., New Germany, Minn.) leads the way with 3.20 digs per set. Becca Vandenheuvel (Sr., DS, Cannon Falls, Minn.) has also been strong in the back-row with 2.69 digs per set. In addition, Hagen is tallying 2.63 digs per set. On the block, Kelci Green paces U of M Crookston with 0.81 blocks per set, while Kaitlin Sikkink (R-So., RS, St. Charles, Minn.) is averaging 0.58 blocks per set.

MSU Moorhead at Minnesota Crookston
Fri., Oct. 20 – 6 p.m. – Lysaker Gymnasium
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/wvball/
Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/#liveEventsTab
Radio – 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM

Minnesota State Moorhead comes into the weekend with a 7-12 (2-9 NSIC) mark. The Dragons are on a nine-game losing streak. MSU Moorhead fell 3-0 to nationally ranked foes Wayne State College (Neb.) and Augustana University last weekend.

The Dragons are averaging 10.57 kills per set on the season. MSU Moorhead boasts a very young team with only three upperclassmen. They haven't been a very potent offensive team on the attack with Courtney Selbitschka leading the way with 2.20 kills per set. In addition, middle hitter Kaylynn Jenkins is averaging 2.19 kills per set on the season. At setter, Ellie Hoyt is guiding a Dragon offense that is hitting .142 on the season. Hoyt is averaging 7.22 assists per set on the season.

Defensively, Monica Vega has led the way with 5.41 digs per set. The Dragon defense has kept the team alive in many matches as they are averaging 17.1 digs per set on the year. MSU Moorhead also has a strong block with 1.04 blocks per set from both Jenkins and Kylie Kanwischer.

Northern State at Minnesota Crookston
Sat., Oct. 21, 4 p.m., Lysaker Gymnasium
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/wvball/
Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/#liveEventsTab

The Wolves enter the weekend with a 16-3 (9-2 NSIC) mark. Northern State boasts a No. 11 national ranking on the year. They picked up a 3-0 win over Minnesota Crookston in non-conference play at the Max & Erma's Classic in September.


Northern State also has a young roster with just three upperclassmen on the roster, as well. The Wolves are tallying 13.5 kills per set and hitting .287 on the season. Hailey Bush leads the way for the Wolves with 4.15 kills per set. On the right side, Laura Snyder comes in tallying 2.83 kills per set. Jenna Reiff is averaging 2.53 kills per set, while Holly Vancura is tallying 2.39 kills per set. Ashley Rozell has been a steadying factor at setter with 11.58 assists per set.

Defensively, Northern State is averaging 16.12 digs per set. Jaiden Langlie leads the Wolves with 4.00 digs per set, while Vancura is averaging 3.33 digs per set. The Wolves are led by Reiff on the block with 1.11 blocks per set, while Morgan Baufield is averaging 0.71 blocks per set.