The University of Minnesota Crookston Volleyball team is back at home this weekend for one final time of the 2021 season, as they will host Augustana on Friday and No. 13 Wayne State College on Saturday. Minnesota Crookston will look to end a 16 match losing streak and will vie for their first NSIC win of the season. It is senior weekend as well for the Golden Eagles, as they will honor the 2020 seniors on Friday and the current seniors on Saturday.

• HEY, THAT WAS FUN. Despite a sweep at the hands of the Bulldogs on Tuesday night, the young Golden Eagles might have played their best match of the season in Crookston. The Golden Eagles trailed 7-1 early on in the first set, but boy did they fight back. They eventually tied the set at 17 and would extend the set past the finish line of 25, ultimately falling, 28-26. The Golden Eagles would then lead the second set by as many as four, but the Bulldogs would be able to come back and win the middle set. Although it wasn't the result the Golden Eagles wanted, the young Golden Eagles have been coming into their own the last few weeks.

• FIVE SET THRILLER. Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State played an outstanding match on Thursday night in Crookston. The Golden Eagles won the first two sets fairly handily over the Beavers, but the Beavers wouldn't go away, coming from behind in the third set to win that set and extend the match. Bemidji State would then trail just once in the fourth and fifth set to earn their second straight conference win, winning the final three sets in thrilling fashion. It was a heartbreaker for the Golden Eagles, who fall to 0-2 in five-set matches this season.

• HOLY MOLY MARA. On Thursday night against Bemidji State, sophomore Mara Weisensel was unbelievable. The New Ulm, Minn., had a career night against the Beavers, collecting 16 kills on 33 total swings, which were both career marks for number 11. Weisensel hit .424 in the match as well, which was also a career-high. That mark didn't last long however, as she hit a whopping .556 on Saturday against St. Cloud State, after collecting five kills on nine total swings. Weisensel seems to be coming into her own for the maroon and gold 20 matches into her career.

• TIME FLIES. It seems like just yesterday that the Golden Eagles were on a plane heading out to Pueblo, Colo., for their first matches of the season. Fast forward 20 matches and the Golden Eagles have just four matches left in the 2021 season. Minnesota Crookston has just three matches remaining in Crookston, including a matchup with nationally-ranked Wayne State College this Saturday. Minnesota Crookston will look to end their season on a high note.

• DOWN MEMORY LAYNE. Another youngster that is coming into her own as a Golden Eagle is the lone Nebraskan on the roster, Layne Whaley. The freshman from Ashland, Neb., has had an unreal stretch of four matches where she has dug out 58 total balls, including a career-high 20 against UMary in Bismarck. Whaley has eight games this season with 10 or more digs, including half in the last two weekends. Whaley has proved herself as a backstop in the back row for the Golden Eagles.

•  BAILEY IS BALLIN'. Yet another freshman making an impact and coming into her own as a Golden Eagle. Like Whaley and her four-straight games with digs, Schaefer has done the same, except it is in the kills' category. Schaefer collected a career-high 13 kills in a loss two Fridays ago against Minot State and has followed that up with 11 kills in three matches in a row. Schaefer has also hit above .200 in two straight matches, which is something she hasn't done since the first two matches of the season against Fort Hays State and Chadron State.


Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Sarah Morgan (5th Season)
Record at UMC: 16-88

Augustana University Vikings
Head Coach: Jennifer Jacobs (5th Season)
Record at Augustana: 68-46

Wayne State College Wildcats
Head Coach: Scott Kneifl (17th Season)
Record at WSC: 386-137

How to Follow
Augustana @ Minnesota Crookston
Date: Friday, Nov. 5
Time: 5 P.M.
Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium
Officials: Jeffrey Helgerson and Donna Johnson-Hutchinson
NSIC Match
Video: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
Live Stats: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wvball/media

No. 14 Wayne State College @ Minnesota Crookston
Date: Saturday, Oct. 30
Time: 2 P.M.
Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium
Officials: Jeffrey Helgerson and Donna Johnson-Hutchinson
NSIC Match
Video: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
Live Stats: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wvball/media


Opponents Outlook
AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY VIKINGS. The Vikings are fighting for their lives in the NSIC. If the season ended today, Augustana would make the NSIC playoffs as a seven seed. They helped their case this past Tuesday with a win over No. 14 Southwest Minnesota State to improve to 10-6 in the conference. A successful road trip this weekend would go a long way for the Vikings.

PADDING THE RESUME. Although the Vikings might be on the outside looking in for the NCAA Tournament, they still do have some key wins this season. The Vikings have two wins over ranked teams, one coming against then No. 16 Minnesota Duluth and their most recent win over No. 14 Southwest Minnesota State. Augustana also has a win in exhibition play over in-state rival South Dakota State in exhibition play earlier this season.

MADDY DOESN'T MISS. To say Maddy Guetter has been playing well as of late would be a giant understatement. The Wabasso, Minn., native has eight straight games with 10 or more kills, including a two match stretch in early October when she collected 34 kills against Northern State and 30 against Minnesota State in back-to-back matches. On the season, Guetter has 325 kills compared to just 144 errors.

WAYNE STATE COLLEGE WILDCATS. The Wildcats are playing for the national tournament and this is a big weekend for the No. 13 Wildcats. WSC has a ton of quality wins, including four wins over teams that are currently or were ranked in the top-25. Wayne State swept Minnesota Crookston earlier this year in Rice Auditorium.

CADA IS CONFIDENT. Kelsie Cada has every reason to be confident. When in doubt, the Wildcats go to their sophomore from Wahoo, Neb., to try and get them a point. Cada leads the team in points (309.0), kills (263) and total attacks (881). Cada doesn't have a match with more than 16 kills, but she does have three matches with 15 kills. Cada leads a dangerous Wildcat attack.

BELLER BLOCKS.  Taya Beller is another young Wildcat who has made waves this season. The Lindsey, Neb., native leads the team by a wide margin in blocks at 73 on the season, which averages out to almost one per set, which is an astounding number. Getting the ball past the hands of the redshirt freshman has been an issue for almost every Wildcat opponent this season.