KENOSHA, Wis. – The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team won their opening match of the season 3-1 (25-19, 26-24, 16-25, 25-23) over University of Wisconsin-Parkside at the 2018 Hampton Inn Invitational at DeSimone Gymnasium in Kenosha, Wis.

The Golden Eagles improve to 1-0 on the season. They wrap up the first day of the season against Purdue University Northwest.

Wisconsin-Parkside starts the season 0-1 under first-year head coach Leigh Barea.

The Golden Eagles hit .110 for the match with 43 kills, while holding the Rangers to a .107 hitting percentage on 49 kills.

Key Players
Minnesota Crookston
Sabrina Leuer, 9 kills, .167 hitting pct., 9 digs, 3 blocks
Lauren Wallace, 8 kills, .250 hitting pct., 3 blocks
Porsha Porath, 11 kills, .022 hitting pct., 2 blocks
Sydney Kruisselbrink, 33 assists
Ali Schueler, 18 digs
Katie Lienemann, 15 digs

Wisconsin-Parkside
Lexie Calloway, 17 kills, .137 hitting pct. 16 digs
Katie Adams, 11 kills, 26 assists, 10 digs
Ann Leo, 25 digs
Lyndsie Anders, 21 digs

Set One
Minnesota Crookston was resilient after a tough start in which they found themselves down 8-5. The Golden Eagles were able to string several points together to take their first lead of the match 10-9 following an errant hit for the Rangers. Wisconsin-Parkside came back and would be tied up mid-way through the match 15-15. However, that is when the Golden Eagles rode the momentum led by the serve of Callie Schapekahm (Sr., MH, Eagan, Minn.) as they rattled off eight-straight points to take the 24-15 lead. The Rangers finally stopped the rally and made a late charge, but it was too late as Minnesota Crookston took the set 25-19.

Set Two
The Rangers got out to an early 7-2 lead in set two. The Golden Eagles responded in a similar way to set two as they knotted the match up 8-8 as Sydney Kruisselbrink (So., S, Rochester, Minn.) strategically placed the ball over the net for a crucial point. Minnesota Crookston took their first lead with a Lauren Wallace (R-Fr., OH, Bloomington, Minn.) kill to put the set at 12-11. The Golden Eagles extended their lead to 17-13 on a bad set by Adams. The Rangers came back and were able to take the advantage 21-20 on a bad set from Kruisselbrink. The two squads kept matching points until 24-24. The Golden Eagles were able to take the set 26-24 with a kill from Schapekahm and a Ranger attack error.
 
Set Three
Wisconsin-Parkside took a 12-7 advantage following a Lexie Calloway kill.  Minnesota Crookston made a slight comeback but the Rangers were able to come away with the third set 25-16.

Set Four
 The Golden Eagles rebounded from a tough third set to get out to an early 5-2 lead after a Calloway attack error. Wisconsin-Parkside came back in the set as they knotted the set up 6-6 following a Lauren Ulibarri attack error. The Golden Eagles took 4-of-5 points to move out to an 11-7 lead after a bad set by Emma Habisch. Minnesota Crookston used a kill from Wallace on the right side to extend the advantage to 16-10. The Rangers staged a comeback as they cut the lead to 17-15 with a Calloway kill. Minnesota Crookston was able to hold off the charge as they picked up a 25-23 set four win to take the match 3-1.  

Minnesota Crookston continues play at the 2018 Hampton Inn Invitational against Purdue University Northwest. The game was set to begin at 5 p.m., but due to longer matches it will take place 30 minutes after the conclusion of Bemidji State University and Saginaw Valley State University, which is set to begin at 4:20 p.m.