SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team fell 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-12) to No. 17 Augustana University Sat., Sept. 30 at Elmen Center.

The Golden Eagles fall to 4-11 (1-5 NSIC) with Saturday's loss. Augustana improved to 12-5 (3-4 NSIC) with the victory.

Minnesota Crookston hit .116 on the evening with 30 kills and 16 errors. The Golden Eagles looked to Kassi Green (R-Sr., OH, Anoka, Minn.) on the match with 13 kills and a .170 hitting percentage. Kaitlin Sikkink (R-So., RS, St. Charles, MInn.) had one of her best matches of the season with six kills and a .300 hitting percentage. Augustana was able to neutralize middle hitter Kelci Green (R-Sr., MH, Anoka, MInn.) as she hit .000 with five kill and five errors.

Kaycie Hagen (Sr., S, Savage, Minn.) notched 22 assists for the match.

Defensively, Becca Vandenheuvel (Sr., DS, Cannon Falls, Minn.) and Maggie Perrel (R-Sr., OH, New Germany, Minn.) led the team with 16 digs apiece as the Golden Eagles notched 60 digs for the match. On the block, Minnesota Crookston was guided by four block assists from Sikkink and Callie Schapekahm (Jr., MH, Eagan, Minn.).

Augustana was led by an impressive outing by Courtney Place, who tallied 21 kills and five errors as she hit .308 for the match. Ashley Wilson put down nine kills and hit .333 for the match. Lauren Waite rounded things out with eight kills on the match.

Alex Banker guided the offense with 41 assists as she led Augustana to 49 kills and a .217 hitting percentage.

The Vikings looked to 23 digs from libero Tahlyr Banks. Kaylea Ahrens chipped in 15 digs for the match as Augie notched 71 digs for the match. Augustana's block only accounted for five on the match led by two block assists apiece from Place, Banker, Wilson and Bailey Koch.

Minnesota Crookston played even volleyball early in the first set as they would be knotted up 8-8 with the No. 17 team in the nation following a kill by Sikkink. Augustana responded with a 7-0 run to quickly turn the tide as they led 15-8 following Banker's kill. The Vikings extended their lead to 18-9 with a Place service ace. The Golden Eagles made a charge as they cut the lead to 24-17 on a successful shot from Deaira Gresham (Fr., OH, Maplewood, Minn.). The Vikings would be able to hold off Minnesota Crookston for a 25-18 with a Place spike.

Augustana raced out to a 4-1 advantage with a Place kill to open the second frame. The Vikings pushed their lead out to 11-4 on a Kelci Green (R-Sr., MH, Anoka, Minn.) attack error. Minnesota Crookston would counter and cut the deficit to 16-13 with a block from Sikkink and Schapekahm. Augustana moved their lead to 21-15 with a Koch kill. The Golden Eagles did not give in as they took 8-of-10 points to knot the match up 23-23 on a Kassi Green kill. However, Augustana staved off the late charge by taking the final two points with a decisive Place spike to take it 25-23.

The Vikings had early control of the third set, jetting to a 10-3 lead on a Place kill. The U of M Crookston pulled within 15-8 with a Place attack error. Augustana would continue to build off of the momentum though as they won 25-12 to take the match 3-0.

Minnesota Crookston returns home to face Winona State University Fri., Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium, and Upper Iowa University Sat., Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. in Crookston, Minn.