CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team hung with No. 5 Northern State University in spurts, especially in a strong second set, but they ultimately fell 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-12) Fri., Nov. 2.

The Golden Eagles were ignited by 10 kills from Deaira Gresham (So., OH, Maplewood, Minn.) as they finished with 30 kills and 21 errors with a .088 hitting percentage. Northern State finished the match with 40 kills and 10 errors with a .326 hitting percentage. The Golden Eagles notched 11.7 digs per set, four service aces and four blocks.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 4-23 (2-17 NSIC) following Friday's result. Northern State improves to 24-3 (16-3 NSIC) after Friday's victory. The Wolves remain in a three-way tie for first place with Concordia University-St. Paul and University of Minnesota Duluth. The game was played at Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston, Minn.

Key Players
Minnesota Crookston
Deaira Gresham, 10 kills, .133 hitting pct.
Porsha Porath, 7 kills
Kaitlin Sikkink, 5 kills, .357 hitting pct.
Sydney Kruisselbrink, 25 assists
Katie Lienemann, 10 digs
Ali Schueler, 9 digs

Northern State
Hailey Busch, 10 kills, .318 hitting pct., 12 digs
Jenna Reiff, 9 kills
Laura Snyder, 6 kills, .308 hitting pct.
Ashley Rozell, 32 assists
Lexi Boesl, 10 digs

Northern State opened the first set with a 4-2 lead after a Laura Snyder kill. Minnesota Crookston countered and knotted the frame up 4-4 following a Snyder attack error. The Wolves responded with a 6-1 run as they went ahead 9-5. Northern State would lead 13-8 following a Morgan Baufield kill. The Golden Eagles countered to cut the deficit to 13-9 after a Gresham kill. The Wolves came through with a crucial 6-1 run ignited by three kills from Jenna Reiff as they took the 19-10 advantage. Northern State was able to close out the frame with a 25-15 win to take a 1-0 lead in sets.

The Golden Eagles came out with a strong set two. Minnesota Crookston started the match with a 3-2 advantage following a Gresham kill. Northern State countered and took a 5-3 lead following an Ashley Rozell service ace. The Golden Eagles came right back and knotted the set up 5-5 after a Gresham kill. Northern State continued the see-saw affair as they took the advantage back 7-5. Minnesota Crookston pulled within 7-6 after a Sally Gaul attack error. However, Northern State made a major move as they used a 5-0 run to go ahead 12-6. Minnesota Crookston made a charge to cut the lead to 16-15 ignited by kills from Callie Schapekahm (Sr., MH, Eagan, Minn.) and Gresham. However, the Wolves retaliated with a 5-1 run to move into the driver's seat at 21-16 with a block from Reiff and Snyder. The Golden Eagles would come within 24-20 on a Kaitlin Sikkink (R-Jr., MH, St. Charles, Minn.) kill, but Northern State took set point on a Rozell kill to go up 2-0.

The Wolves controlled the final set early on as they led 9-5 following a Gaul kill. Minnesota Crookston countered to cut the lead to 9-7. Northern State widened the gap to 21-8 using a 12-1 run propelled by three Reiff kills. Minnesota Crookston would only get as close as 22-11 with a Katie Lienemann (So., Lib., Rosemount, Minn.) service ace before the Wolves controlled the set 25-12 on a Regan Dennis kill to take the match 3-0.

The Golden Eagles conclude the 2018 season with a 2 p.m. meeting with Minnesota State University Moorhead Sat., Nov. 3 at Lysaker Gymnasium.