CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team will host University of Sioux Falls and No. 1 Southwest Minnesota State University Fri., Sept. 22 and Sat., Sept. 23. The Golden Eagles will take on the Cougars Friday at 6 p.m. and the Mustangs Saturday at 2 p.m.

Minnesota Crookston is coming into the weekend with positive momentum after picking up a scrappy 3-2 victory in five sets over Bemidji State University Tuesday night. The Golden Eagles are 4-7 (1-2 NSIC) coming into Friday's match. The U of M Crookston looks to Kassi Green (R-Sr., OH, Anoka, Minn.), who is averaging 3.76 kills and 2.32 digs per set. Minnesota Crookston has gotten increased production recently from Kelci Green (R-Sr., MH, Anoka, Minn.), who is coming off of 19 kills on Tuesday against BSU. Green comes in tallying 2.26 kills per set and hitting .281 on the season.

The Golden Eagles are getting 1.42 kills per set from their other left-side pin hitter Deaira Gresham (Fr., OH, Maplewood, Minn.), while right side hitter Kaitlin Sikkink (R-So., MH/RS, St. Charles, Minn.) is tallying 1.50 kills per set.

At setter, the U of M Crookston is led by Kaycie Hagen (Sr., S, Burnsville, Minn.), who is averaging 8.35 assists per set. Hagen has guided the Golden Eagles to 10.95 kills per set and a .168 hitting percentage.

Defensively, the Golden Eagles have kept a lot of plays alive as they are averaging 14.71 digs per set. Minnesota Crookston notched 83 digs against Bemidji State Tuesday for an average of 16.6 digs per set. The Golden Eagles are led defensively by libero Maggie Perrel (R-Sr., OH/DS, New Germany, Minn.), who is averaging 3.08 digs per set. Hagen comes in tallying 2.35 digs per set, while Kassi Green is averaging 2.32 digs per set. Becca Vandenheuvel (Sr., DS, Cannon Falls, Minn.) has also increased her production defensively in recent matches. Vandenheuvel notched 15 digs Tuesday against the Beavers.

On the block, the U of M Crookston looks to Kelci Green's 0.74 blocks per set, while Callie Schapekahm (Jr., MH, Eagan, Minn.) is averaging 0.50 blocks per set.

Sioux Falls at Minnesota Crookston
Fri., Sept. 22, 6 p.m.
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/wvball/
Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/#liveEventsTab

Sioux Falls comes into Friday with a 6-2 mark (1-2 NSIC). The Cougars fell to nationally ranked foes Wayne State College and Southwest Minnesota State and defeated nationally ranked Augustana University. Sioux Falls has looked to outside hitter Makenna Rockeman's 3.68 kills per set. Right side hitter Bria Barfnecht comes in averaging 3.12 kills per set and is hitting .329 on the season, while middle hitter Lexi Scott is tallying 2.56 kills per set and is hitting .375 on the season.

At setter, the Cougars look to Megan Hamstad's 11.09 assists per set. She has led USF to 13.19 kills per set and a .243 hitting percentage.

Defensively, Sioux Falls is averaging 15.09 digs per set led by 4.56 digs per set from Janelle Lam. On the block, USF is led by 1.25 blocks per set from Scott.
 
#1 Southwest Minnesota State at Minnesota Crookston
Sat., Sept. 23, 2 p.m.
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/wvball/
Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/#liveEventsTab
Radio – 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM

Southwest Minnesota State comes into the weekend with an 11-0 mark and a No. 1 national ranking. The Mustangs are averaging 15.12 kills per set and are hitting .261 on the season. Southwest Minnesota State has a potent attack led by outside hitter Taylor Reiss' 4.63 kills per set. Kaylee Burmeister comes into the weekend averaging 3.51 kills per set. In addition, Brooke Borchardt is averaging 2.66 kills per set and is hitting .397, while Sarina Smith is tallying 2.26 kills per set and is hitting .346.

At setter, Megan Larson comes into the weekend averaging 12.39 assists per set. Defensively, SMSU is tallying 17.05 digs per set led by Burmeister's 3.80 digs per set and Reiss' 3.10 digs per set. The Mustangs have a strong block led by one kill per set from Borchardt and Smith.