CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team will open up Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play this week with matches against No. 7 University of Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State University.

Minnesota Crookston at #7 Minnesota Duluth
Thurs., Sept. 14, 6 p.m., Romano Gymnasium, Duluth, Minn.
Live Stats – https://portal.stretchinternet.com/umd/
Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/umd/

St. Cloud State at Minnesota Crookston
Sat., Sept. 16, 4 p.m., Lysaker Gymnasium, Crookston, Minn.
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/wvball/
Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/#liveEventsTab
Radio – 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM
Online – http://www.kroxam.com

The Golden Eagles will take on Minnesota Duluth Thurs., Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. at Romano Gymnasium in Duluth, Minn. Minnesota Crookston will then open their home slate Sat., Sept. 16 at 4 p.m. versus St. Cloud State.

Minnesota Crookston comes into the weekend with a 3-5 mark on the season after tournaments in Durant, Okla., and Aberdeen, S.D. The Golden Eagles come in averaging 10.6 kills per set. They are hitting .170 as a team. Offensively, the U of M Crookston has looked to Kassi Green (R-Sr., OH, Anoka, Minn.), who has twice been named to All-Tournament teams this year. Green is averaging 3.96 kills per set and 4.50 points per set. She is hitting .218 on the season. In addition, her twin sister Kelci Green (R-Sr., MH, Anoka, Minn.) is tallying 1.81 kills per set, while Deaira Gresham (Fr., OH, Maplewood, Minn.) is averaging 1.54 kills per set.

At setter, Kaycie Hagen (Sr., S, Savage, Minn.) has been the leader for Minnesota Crookston with 7.42 assists per set. Alex Oakes (R-So., S, Cloquet, Minn.) has also seen time in the lineup for the Golden Eagles as she is tallying 2.75 assists per set on the season.

Defensively, the Golden Eagles are giving up 13.5 kills per set to their opponents and are allowing them to hit .257 on the season. Minnesota Crookston has looked to Maggie Perrel (R-Sr., DS/OH, New Germany, Minn.) to lead the way. Perrel has been playing libero to open the season as she returns from an injury. She is averaging 3.04 digs per set on the year. Hagen comes in tallying 2.15 digs per set, while Kassi Green is averaging 2.56 digs per set. On the block, Kelci Green paces Minnesota Crookston with 0.81 blocks per set, while Kaitlin Sikkink (R-So., MH, St. Charles, Minn.) is averaging 0.59 blocks per set.

The Golden Eagles are averaging 1.48 service aces per game off serves. Minnesota Crookston is led by Callie Schapekahm (Jr., MH, Eagan, Minn.), who has nine service aces on the season. Kassi Green has added eight service aces.

Minnesota Duluth
The Bulldogs come into the week with a 7-1 mark and a No. 7 national ranking. The Bulldogs are averaging 15.9 kills per set and are hitting .335 on the season. Minnesota Duluth looks to 3.60 kills per set from right side hitter Sarah Kelly and outside hitter Makenzie Morgen. Freshman outside hitter Kate Berg is averaging 3.08 kills per set to add to the UMD attack. At setter, Emily Torve paces the Bulldogs with 12.8 assists per set.

Defensively, Minnesota Duluth is limiting opponents to just 9.96 kills per set and a .162 attack percentage. The Bulldogs look to libero Kelly Madison, who is averaging 4.04 digs per set. Morgen adds 3.32 digs per set. On the block, Kelly leads the way with 0.72 blocks per set, while Abby Thor is averaging 0.64 blocks per set.

St. Cloud State
The Huskies enter the week with a 7-2 mark on the season. St. Cloud State is averaging 13.8 kills per set and is hitting .193 as a team. St. Cloud State looks offensively to right side hitter Becca Gruber, who is tallying 2.97 kills per set. Outside hitter Nicole Miller is adding 2.88 kills per set. At setter, the Huskies utilize a pair of players. Kayla Crane is averaging 6.41 assists per set, while Maddy Torve is tallying 4.47 assists per set.

Defensively, St. Cloud State has held opponents to 10.7 kills per set and a .159 attack percentage. The Huskies are led by libero Clara Krenz, who is averaging 5.81 digs per set. Miller is averaging 3.41 digs per set. On the block, the Huskies look to 0.97 blocks per set from Marah Mulso.