CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team hits the road this weekend as they take on Augustana University Fri., Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. in Sioux Falls, S.D., and Wayne State College (Neb.) Sat., Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. in Wayne, Neb.
Minnesota Crookston at Augustana
Fri., Oct. 5, 6 p.m.
Live Stats -
https://goaugie.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
Video -
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/augie/
Minnesota Crookston at Wayne State
Sat., Oct. 6, 1 p.m.
Live Stats -
http://wildcat.wsc.edu/athletics/mediastats/volleyball/xlive.htm
Video -
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/wsc/
Minnesota Crookston enters the weekend with a 3-14 (1-8 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles competed well in the early going last weekend against both Southwest Minnesota State University and University of Sioux Falls, but they would falter late as they fell 3-0 in both matches. The Golden Eagles are continuing to grow as a team and build on the positives as they move along in the NSIC season.
Minnesota Crookston comes into the weekend averaging 9.28 kills per set and a .111 hitting percentage.
Deaira Gresham (So., OH, Maplewood, Minn.) leads the Golden Eagles with 2.71 kills per set on the season. Gresham had a solid weekend for Minnesota Crookston as she averaged 3.67 kills per set and hit .194 in two matches for the Golden Eagles.
Porsha Porath (Fr., OH, Windom, Minn.) enters this weekend's matches averaging 2.19 kills per set, while
Kaitlin Sikkink (R-Jr., MH, St. Charles, Minn.) is tallying 1.78 kills per set and hitting .247 on the season. Sikkink has tallied 2.14 kills per set in the last four matches, and she is hitting .362 during those matches.
At setter,
Sydney Kruisselbrink (So., S, Rochester, Minn.) is averaging 7.42 assists per set on the season.
Defensively, libero
Ali Schueler (R-Jr., Howards Grove, Wis.) paces the Golden Eagles with 3.8 digs per set. Schueler is averaging 4.5 digs per set for Minnesota Crookston over the last two matches. On the block, the Golden Eagles come into the weekend tallying 1.43 blocks per set paced by 0.59 blocks per set by Sikkink.
Augustana Preview
Augustana enters the weekend with a 5-12 (0-9 NSIC) mark. The Vikings have lost 10 straight matches dating back to a 3-0 win over Fort Hays State University Sept. 1. Augustana comes into the weekend averaging 12.1 kills per set with a .196 hitting percentage.
The Vikings are guided by the play of Courtney Place, who is tallying 4.28 kills per set and hitting .221 on the season. In addition, Grace Haberland is averaging 1.84 kills per set and hitting .203 for Augustana. Avery Thorson leads the offense from her setter spot as she is notching 9.40 assists per set on the season.
Defensively, Augustana is tallying 16.0 digs per set led by Kaylea Ahrens' 4.14 digs per set. On the block, the Vikings look to Abby Benson's 0.85 blocks per set.
Wayne State Preview
Wayne State comes into the weekend with a 13-5 (5-4 NSIC) mark. The Wildcats split with St. Cloud State University and University of Minnesota Duluth last weekend with a 3-0 win over the Huskies.
Wayne State is notching 11.8 kills per set and hitting .220 on the season. The Wildcats are led by Katie Stephens, who is notching 2.65 kills per set. In addition, Jaci Brahmer is averaging 2.40 kills per set with a .327 hitting percentage, while Alyssa Ballenger is notching 2.37 kills per set.
At setter, Wayne State looks to Megan Gebhardt's 9.60 assists per set.
Defensively, the Wildcats are averaging 16.6 digs per set paced by Haley Kauth with 4.46 digs per set. The Wayne State block is averaging 2.65 blocks per set guided by Tarrin Beller's 1.32 blocks per set, while Brahmer is tallying 1.24 blocks per set.
