CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team played some of their best volleyball of the season but were unable to close out critical points as they fell 3-1 (24-26, 23-25, 25-21, 20-25) to University of Sioux Falls.

The Golden Eagles came within four points combined in the first two sets and then bounced back for the 25-21 victory after a strong third set. Minnesota Crookston struggled to string consecutive points together in the fourth set as they fell 25-20 to lose the match 3-1 to the Cougars.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 4-8 (1-3 NSIC) with Friday's loss. Sioux Falls improved to 7-2 (2-2 NSIC) with the victory. The only two losses on the season for the Cougars came to nationally ranked Wayne State College (Neb.) and No. 1 Southwest Minnesota State University. They have a win over ranked for Augustana University.

The Golden Eagles looked to Kassi Green (R-Sr., OH, Anoka, Minn.) on the match with 22 kills and a .200 hitting percentage. Green has three matches this season with 20 or more kills. Maggie Perrel (R-Sr., OH, New Germany, Minn.), who led the team in kills in 2016, returned to outside hitter for the first time this season after playing libero for the first 11 matches of the season. She has been returning from a previous injury. Perrel notched eight kills and hit .103 for the match. Kelci Green (R-Sr., MH, Anoka, Minn.) chipped in seven kills and hit .200.

At setter, Kaycie Hagen (Sr., S, Burnsville, Minn.) led the team with 39 assists. Hagen led the team to 48 kills and 29 errors with a .133 hitting percentage during Friday's match.

Minnesota Crookston made the Sioux Falls serve-receive work hard as they had strong service on the day with seven service aces led by three from Hagen.

Defensively, the Golden Eagles notched 56 digs led by 14 from libero Ali Schueler (R-So., Lib., Howards Grove, Wis.). Perrel added 11 digs, while Becca

Vandenheuvel (Sr., DS, Cannon Falls, Minn.) chipped in 10 digs. U of M Crookston had a strong day on the block with 10 overall for the match. Kelci Green and Kaitlin Sikkink (R-So., MH, St. Charles, Minn.) dictated play on the block as Green notched seven block assists, while Sikkink chipped in six for the match.

Minnesota Crookston neutralized Sioux Falls' top attacker Makenna Rockeman as she had 10 kills and 10 errors for a .000 hitting percentage. Averey Yaksich added 11 kills and hit .139, while Lexi Scott notched 11 kills and hit .217 for the match.

At setter, Megan Hamstad tallied 39 assists as she guided Sioux Falls to 47 kills and 27 errors for a .148 hitting percentage.

Defensively, Sioux Falls notched 58 digs led by 16 from libero Janelle Lam. Rockeman tallied 12 digs for the evening. On the block, USF notched eight blocks led by four block assists from Abby Feyereisen and Scott.

Minnesota Crookston kept with the Cougars early on as they traded points to make it 12-12. The Golden Eagles took a 13-12 lead on a Kassi Green kill. Sioux Falls bounced back and took a 21-19 lead on a Sikkink attack error. The Cougars led 24-22 after a Yaksich kill. Minnesota Crookston did not give in on set point as they used a Perrel kill and a Yaksich attack error to knot the set up 24-24. However, an attack error and service error from Kassi Green gave the set to Sioux Falls 26-24.

USF got out to a 5-3 lead on a kill from Scott. Minnesota Crookston responded with a 4-0 run culminated by block assists from Sikkink and Kelci Green to make it 7-5 Golden Eagles. Minnesota Crookston took two points advantage three times over the Cougars but would be unable to extend their advantage.  The Cougars seized the opportunity presented by the Golden Eagles as they took a 14-13 lead with a Yaksich kill. USF would be able to move their lead to 19-14 with a 5-0 run

completed by a Scott kill. The Golden Eagles responded and took 9-of-14 points to pull within 24-23 on a Kassi Green kill. However, USF closed out the set 25-23 on a Feyereisen kill to go up 2-0 on the match.

Minnesota Crookston responded right out of the gate of the third set as they controlled play early on going up 11-3 led by great service from Hagen. Minnesota Crookston continued to lead 17-8 following a Lam service error. USF closed to within 22-18 late on a Kelci Green attack error. However, the Golden Eagles closed out the set with a 25-21 win on a kill from Hagen to cut the lead to 2-1 for Sioux Falls.

Minnesota Crookston pushed out to a 4-2 advantage in the fourth set on a Kassi Green kill. Sioux Falls responded and took a 7-5 lead with a Feyereisen kill. USF moved their lead out to 11-6 on a Kassi Green attack error. The Golden Eagles closed within 20-16 on a Callie Schapekahm (Jr., MH, Eagan, Minn.) kill. However, Sioux Falls would continue to hold the momentum of the set to take the 25-20 set win and 3-1 match victory despite a strong effort from the Maroon and Gold.

The Golden Eagles will return to action Sat., Sept. 23 at 2 p.m. against No. 1 Southwest Minnesota State University at Lysaker Gymnasium.