Women's Volleyball 9/7/2017 10:32:00 AM Shawn Smith, Sports Information Director

Minnesota Crookston Volleyball Treks to Aberdeen for Max & Erma's Classic

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team will trek to Aberdeen, S.D. for the 2017 Max and Erma's Classic Fri., Sept. 8 and Sat., Sept. 9. The Golden Eagles will play four non-conference matches in the tournament against three Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) schools and one Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) school.

Minnesota Crookston comes into the weekend with a 1-3 mark on the season. The Golden Eagles played tough competition last weekend at the South Central Classic in Durant, Okla., including No. 16 University of Central Missouri. Minnesota Crookston's opponents from last week have a combined record of 12-4 going into the second weekend of the season.

The Golden Eagles are averaging 11.1 kills per set and hitting .185 as a team coming off their first tournament of the season. Minnesota Crookston looks to outside hitter Kassi Green (R-Sr., OH, Anoka, Minn.) to lead the way. Green was named to the All-South Central Classic Tournament team after her four-game performance. She is averaging 4.33 kills per set and is hitting .239 on the season. Her twin sister Kelci Green (R-Sr., MH, Anoka, Minn.) has also added to the attack with 2.17 kills per set and a .286 attack percentage. Kelci Green leads the block for the U of M Crookston with 0.83 blocks per set.

At setter, Kaycie Hagen (Sr., S, Savage, Minn.) has operated the offense averaging 7.08 assists per set.

Defensively, Maggie Perrel (R-Sr., DS/OH, New Germany, Minn.) has moved into a new role to open the season as she has played as a defensive specialist and libero after leading the team in kills last season. Perrel comes in averaging 2.67 digs per set. Kassi Green has also been strong defensively with 2.08 digs per set. Kelci Green leads the block, while Kaitlin Sikkink (R-So., MH, Saint Charles, Minn.) and Callie Schapekahm (Jr., MH, Eagan, Minn.) are both averaging 0.67 blocks per set.

The Golden Eagles have also been strong on the serve with 23 service aces on the season. Schapekahm leads the team with six service aces, while Kelci Green, Kassi Green and Becca Vandenheuvel (Sr., DS, Cannon Falls, Minn.) each have tallied three service aces.

Minnesota Crookston vs. Minot State
Fri., Sept 8, 10 a.m., Wachs Arena, Aberdeen, S.D.
Live Stats - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/northern/
Live Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/northern/
The Golden Eagles will open up play at the Max and Erma's Classic Fri., Sept. 8 at 10 a.m. against Minot State University. The match will be a non-conference tilt against an NSIC opponent.

The Beavers went 3-1 last weekend in Minot, N.D., with their only loss coming to Minnesota State University Moorhead. Minot State is led by Shelby Spuller, who is averaging 3.88 kills per set and is hitting .160 on the season. In addition to Spuller, Emily Falldorf comes in averaging 2.44 kills and 0.88 blocks per set. In addition to Falldorf on the block, the Beavers look to Hayley Swain who is tallying 1.25 blocks per set.

At setter, Minot State looks to Kelsey Dewulf's 10.3 assists per set. Dewulf has led the Beavers to 11.9 kills per set and a .157 hitting percentage. Defensively, Minot State looks to Karli Koza's 5.38 digs per set, while Mekayla Gurley is averaging 3.38 digs per set.

Minnesota Crookston vs. South Dakota School of Mines
Fri., Sept. 8, 4:45 p.m., Wachs Arena, Aberdeen, S.D.
Live Stats - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/northern/
Live Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/northern/
Minnesota Crookston will continue play Fri., Sept. 8 against RMAC foe South Dakota School of Mines at 4:45 p.m. The Hardrockers went 0-4 at the Minot State Volleyball Classic last weekend in Minot, N.D. South Dakota Mines is led by Mikkella Reese's 2.00 kills per set. In addition, Caryn Hazard is averaging 1.86 kills per set. At setter, the Hardrockers have utilized two players with Emma Eckel tallying 4.33 assists per set, and Allie Boggs averaging 4.08 assists per set.

Defensively, the Hardrockers look to Alye Wagner's 4.00 digs per set. Emily Newton leads the block for South Dakota Mines, averaging 0.67 blocks per set.

Minnesota Crookston vs. Minnesota State
Sat., Sept. 9, 2:30 p.m., Wachs Arena, Aberdeen, S.D.
Live Stats - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/northern/
Live Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/northern/
The Golden Eagles will open up Sat., Sept. 9 versus Minnesota State University, Mankato at 2:30 p.m. The Mavericks enter the weekend with a 3-1 mark on the season. Their only loss came at the hands of Wayne State University (Mich.) 3-0. Minnesota State is averaging 12.2 kills per set and is hitting .238 on the season. The Mavericks look to outside hitter Sydney Powell's 3.29 kills per set. She is hitting .242 on the season. Their attack is aided by middle hitter Ashton Lee's 2.57 kills per set. Lee is hitting .420 on the season.

At setter, Autumn Risch leads the way with 5.21 assists per set, while Micayla Porter is tallying 4.14 assists per set.

Defensively, Minnesota State looks to Mara Quam's 4.07 digs per set. On the block, Anissa Janzig leads the way with 0.93 blocks per set.

Minnesota State at Northern State
Sat., Sept. 9, 7 p.m., Wachs Arena, Aberdeen, S.D.
Live Stats - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/northern/
Live Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/northern/
The Golden Eagles will conclude the tournament against host team Northern State University Sat., Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. The Wolves come into the weekend with a 3-1 mark on the season. The only loss for Northern State came to No. 15 California State University-San Bernardino 3-2. They have a young roster with 11 players who are sophomores or younger.

The Wolves come in averaging 13.7 kills per set on the attack. They are hitting .273 on the season. Northern State looks to Hailey Busch's 4.13 kills per set. She is hitting .305 on the season. In addition, Jenna Reiff is averaging 2.53 kills per set and hitting .302, while Holly Vancura is tallying 2.20 kills per set and hitting .230 on the season. Ashley Rozell paces the team with her 11.13 assists per set.

Defensively, Jaiden Langlie leads the team with 3.53 digs per set. On the block, Morgan Baufield is averaging 1.13 blocks per set, while Laura Snyder is tallying 0.90 blocks per set.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

The University of Minnesota Crookston is a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. Minnesota Crookston sponsors 11 intercollegiate athletic teams with membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference (NSIC) and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The NSIC is a 16-team conference with schools situated in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.