DURANT, Okla. - The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball program picked up their first win of the season with a 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-16) victory over Southern Nazarene University Sat., Sept. 2 at Bloomer Sullivan Arena in Durant, Okla.
 
Minnesota Crookston improved to 1-2 (0-0 NSIC) with Saturday's victory. Southern Nazarene drops to 2-1 after Saturday morning's loss. The Golden Eagles head into their final game of the 2017 South Central Classic Sat., Sept. 2 at 2 p.m. versus Ouachita Baptist University.
 
The Golden Eagles looked to the play of Kassi Green (R-Sr., OH, Anoka, Minn.), who led the way with 13 kills on 27 attempts for a .407 attack percentage. Her twin sister Kelci Green (R-Sr., MH, Anoka, Minn.) added to the attack with seven kills and a .214 attack percentage, while Kaitlin Sikkink (R-Jr., MH, St. Charles, Minn.) chipped in six kills with a .417 attack percentage.
 
At setter, Kaycie Hagen (Sr., S, Savage, Minn.) led the offense with 24 assists. She aided the Golden Eagles to a .291 hitting percentage, 34 kills and 11 errors.
 
Defensively, Maggie Perrel (R-Sr., DS/OH, New Germany, Minn.) led the way with 17 digs at the libero position. Becca Vandenheuvel (Sr., DS, Cannon Falls, Minn.) chipped in six digs.
 
Minnesota Crookston had a strong block on the morning as they tallied eight blocks on the game. Kelci Green led the way with five block assists and one solo block. Callie Schapekahm (Jr., MH, Eagan, Minn.), Hagen and Deaira Gresham (Fr., OH, Maplewood, Minn.) all added two block assists.
 
Schapekahm led the U of M Crookston on the serve with five service aces. Alex Oakes (R-So., S, Cloquet, Minn.) added two block assists.
 
Southern Nazarene was held to just a .052 hitting percentage on the morning. They had 28 kills to 23 errors.
 
Kayla Thomas led the Storm with 10 kills and a .474 hitting percentage. Bailee Turang chipped in eight kills and a .154 hitting percentage. At setter, Kylie Smith tallied 22 assists.
 
Defensively, Southern Nazarene looked to 11 digs from Elye Berlin, while Hannah Davis added seven digs. On the block, Davis and Makenna Hunter both tallied one block assist.
 
Minnesota Crookston took the early advantage in the first set as they got out to the 8-4 lead following a Kassi Green service ace. Southern Nazarene would come back and pull within 8-6 after a kill from Davis. However, the Golden Eagles would take the next six points to make it 14-6 following a Schapekahm service ace. Minnesota Crookston took the set 25-15 after tallying the last three points of the set.
 
The U of M Crookston took control of the second set from the onset as they got out to the 16-4 advantage on a kill from Hagen. The Storm would pull within 18-10 on a Kelci Green attack error. However, Minnesota Crookston continued to control the set as they won 25-13 on a Gresham kill.

The Golden Eagles and Storm would play back-and-forth in the early going of the third set as they would be knotted up 4-4. Minnesota Crookston took the lead 6-4 on a Kassi Green kill. The Storm would come right back and take the lead 7-6 on a Thomas service ace. Minnesota Crookston fought back and took the lead 12-8 after a Turang attack error. Minnesota Crookston took 13 of the final 21 points of the third set to take the frame 25-16 and the match 3-0.
 
The U of M Crookston will return to action Sat., Sept. 2 at 2 p.m. against Ouachita Baptist University.