CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston concluded their 2017 home slate with a 3-0 (25-15, 25-11, 25-17) to No. 22 Wayne State College (Neb.). The Golden Eagles were beat at their own game as the Wildcats were able to spread the ball around, coupled with strong defense running a very similar system to Minnesota Crookston.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 7-19 (4-14 NSIC) with Saturday's loss on Senior Day at Lysaker Gymnasium. Wayne State picked up the season sweep over the Golden Eagles. They move to 18-10 (11-7 NSIC) with the victory.

The Golden Eagles were paced by seven kills apiece from Kassi Green (R-Sr., OH, Anoka, Minn.) and Kelci Green. Kassi Green hit .103 on the match, while Kelci Green hit .105 for the match. Callie Schapekahm (Jr., MH, Eagan, Minn.), Maggie Perrel (R-Sr., OH, New Germany, Minn.) and Kaitlin Sikkink (R-So., RS, St. Charles, Minn.) each chipped in four kills.

Minnesota Crookston hit .108 for the match with 28 kills and 17 errors. The Golden Eagles ran a 6-2 for the game, utilizing two setters. Kaycie Hagen (Sr., S, Savage, Minn.) led the team with 14 assists, while Alex Oakes (R-So., S, Cloquet, Minn.) notched 10 helpers.

Defensively, the Golden Eagles finished with 52 digs. Becca Vandenheuvel (Sr., Lib., Cannon Falls, Minn.) paced the team with 17 digs. Hagen and Perrel each notched nine digs. On the block, Kelci Green, Schapekahm, Alyssa Muelken (Sr., MH, Savage, Minn.) and Sikkink each picked up one block assist. Kelci Green needs 31 total blocks and seven block assists to tie school records set by Erin Flynn.

Wayne State finished the match with 43 kills and just five errors. They hit .369 for the day. Erin Gross notched 10 kills with just one error as she hit .409. Jaci Brahmer and Katie Stephens each added eight kills, while Tarrin Beller chipped in seven kills. Setter Megan Gebhardt led the team with 30 assists.

Defensively, the Wildcats notched 51 digs on the match. Wayne State was paced by 10 digs from Haley Kauth. Bree Ackermann added 10 digs for the day. On the block, the Wildcats looked to two solo blocks and two block assists from Brahmer. Gross added three block assists, while Beller had two block assists and one solo block.

Wayne State led 10-7 in the early going of the first set after a kill from Gross. The Golden Eagles would close within 11-10 with an Oakes service ace. The Wildcats responded with a 14-5 run to wrap up the match as they took the frame 25-15.

Wayne State controlled the second frame from the outset as they won 25-11.

The Golden Eagles tested the Wildcats early in the third set as they were knotted up 6-6 following a Stephens attack error. Minnesota Crookston would take the 9-7 lead with a Kelci Green kill. Wayne State responded with a 9-0 run off of Gebhardt's serve as they extended their lead to 16-9. The Golden Eagles would be able to cut the lead to 16-13 with a kill from Kecli Green. However, Wayne State again ended strong as they close out on a 9-4 run as the took the third set 25-17 and the match 3-0.

The Golden Eagles will wrap up the season next weekend as they take on No. 2 Southwest Minnesota State University Fri., Nov. 10 and University of Sioux Falls Sat., Nov. 11.

Minnesota Crookston honored their seven seniors prior to the match. All seven players were instrumental in the growth and foundation of the program and were crucial during the transition to a new head coach with Sarah Rauen taking over the reins prior to the 2017 season. The 2017 seniors are; Alyssa Muelken, Maggie Perrel, Kaycie Hagen, Kelci Green, Rachel Freund, Kassi Green and Becca Vandenheuvel.