Sioux Falls, S.D. – Minnesota Crookston volleyball was looking to finish 2021 on a high note at the Stewart Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., against the Cougars of the University of Sioux Falls.
 
The Cougars improved to 17-11 (12-8 NSIC) after sweeping the Golden Eagles (19-25, 22-25, 9-25) on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Golden Eagles finish 2021 with a 1-24 record and 0-20 in the NSIC.
 
First Set
The Cougars would jump out to a 5-1 start, but Natalie Koke (R-Jr., S, Caledonia, Wis.) would gather up a kill to make it 5-2.
 
The Golden Eagles would go on a 5-0 run, highlighted by another Koke kill, a Mara Weisensel (So., MH, New Ulm, Minn.) kill and back-to-back aces from Layne Whaley (Fr., DS, Ashland, Neb.) to make it 11-9.
 
With the maroon and gold up 13-11, USF would score eight straight points to retake a 19-13 lead.
 
The Golden Eagles got as close as 21-17, but USF would pull away and win the set, 25-19.
 
Second Set
A Weisensel kill would give the Golden Eagles an early 1-0 lead, but USF would score three in a row to take a 3-1 lead.
 
A pair of attacking errors and a Weisensel kill would help Minnesota Crookston score four straight and take a 5-3 lead.
 
In a set that saw a whopping 15 ties, the Cougars would eventually take a 19-15 lead after going on a 4-0 run.
 
Minnesota Crookston said anything you can do, we can do better, as they would go on a 4-0 run of their own on the back of back-to-back kills from Bailey Schaefer (Fr., OH, Brandon, Minn.) to knot things up at 19.
 
A pair of kills from Charlee Krieg (So., OH, Cavalier, N.D.) would tie things up once again at 21, but USF would score four out of the next five points to win the set, 25-22.
 
Third Set
The third set would be all Cougars, who would stretch their lead to 13-2, before a Cougar service error cut the Golden Eagle deficit to 13-3.
 
USF would ultimately lead 18-3 and that would be all they needed as they would win the final set, 25-9 and the match, three sets to none.
 
Individual Stats
Minnesota Crookston was led by Schaefer's 10 kills on 30 swings, while Weisensel collected seven on 21 attacks. Koke collected 22 assists, while Schaefer and Whaley had nine and eight digs, respectively.
 
Thank You Seniors
This afternoon wrapped-up the Golden Eagle careers of Lauren Wallace (R-Sr., OH, Bloomington, Minn.) and Bailey Mulcahy (R-Sr., DS, Fertile, Minn.). We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.