The University of Minnesota Crookston Volleyball team is set for another three match week, starting this week with a Tuesday match at Minnesota Duluth, followed by a weekend trip to Wayne State College and Augustana. The Golden Eagles went 1-2 last weekend, sweeping Minot State in three sets on the road. We will see if the Tuesday magic continues this week at nationally ranked Minnesota Duluth.

• DIG CRAZY. Earlier this season, Minnesota Crookston wasn't letting anything hit the floor. The Golden Eagles had a three-match stretch where they collected 50 or more digs against Rollins College, CSU Pueblo and Minot State, a stretch where they went 1-2. Defense is the key to any volleyball match and if the Golden Eagles can have that number of digs in matches, they will give themselves an excellent chance to win.

• ACE ACE, IN YOUR FACE. Minnesota Crookston ranks 11th in the NSIC with 31 service aces in 24 sets played, which averages out to 1.29 per set. The trio of Natalie Koke, Lauren Wallace and freshman Layne Whaley have combined for 24 total service aces this season, while Koke leads the way with ten, which is good for eighth in the conference. Service aces can be a huge swing of momentum and the Golden Eagles are already on pace to surpass the 2019 team total of 110.

• EXPERIENCE WINS. Through seven matches, redshirt senior Lauren Wallace leads the Golden Eagles in almost every attacking category, including kills (65), kills per set (2.71), points (75.0), points per set (3.13), total attacks (229) and attacking percentage (.166). Wallace has been a consistent figure in the lineup for almost four seasons and that has continued so far in 2021.

• HIGHWAY-2 RIVALS. Last weekend was the opening weekend for conference play in the NSIC. Through two matches, opponents for tomorrow's match sit in the same spot in the NSIC: 0-2. Both Minnesota Crookston and Minnesota Duluth were swept in their respective home gyms, so Tuesday's match will go a long way in deciding the final NSIC standings.

• 10 YEARS IN THE MAKING? 2021 seems like a good year to beat a ranked opponent. The last time the Golden Eagles defeated a ranked opponent? Sept. 30, 2011 at home when they swept No. 13 Minnesota State Mankato. Since then, the Golden Eagles have come awfully close to knocking off a ranked opponent, especially on the first day of November in 2014 when they took No. 8 Southwest Minnesota State to five-sets. That match was also at home. The Golden Eagles can end the 10 year winless streak over ranked opponents with a win over No. 16 Minnesota Duluth on Tuesday night inside Romano Gymnasium.

• RANKED OPPONENTS UPCOMING. Starting with their match tomorrow against the Bulldogs, there is a decent enough chance that the Golden Eagles will see seven straight ranked opponents. Following their quick match with UMD, the Golden Eagles will travel to Wayne State College and Augustana this weekend, followed by two home matches with Winona State and Upper Iowa. The following weekend, they then travel to Minnesota State Mankato and Concordia-St. Paul. There is a solid chance that every single opponent on the schedule the next three weekends for the Golden Eagles could be ranked by the time they meet. The NSIC is extremely daunting, but there are plenty of chances for the Golden Eagles to 'slay the dragon' as some people might say.


Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Sarah Morgan
Record at UMC: 16-76

Minnesota Duluth
Head Coach: Jim Boos (20th Season)
2021 Record: 7-3 (0-2 NSIC)

How to Follow
Minnesota Crookston at No. 16 Minnesota Duluth
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 17
Time: 6 P.M.
Romano Gymnasium
NSIC Match
Video: https://nsicnetwork.com/umdbulldogs/
Live Stats: https://nsicnetwork.com/umdbulldogs/


Opponents Outlook
MINNESOTA DULUTH. Another week, another NSIC opponent who is a traditional power. Jim Boos is in his 20th season at the helm of the Bulldogs and they have won 20 or more matches in every single one of his years at UMD. Boos and the Bulldogs have nine conference championships in his tenure, winning the old North Central Conference (NCC) five times and the NSIC four time. The Bulldogs have made the NCAA Tournament in all of his seasons except one. The Bulldogs know how to win and win a ton.

A MILESTONE NEARS. Speaking of Boos, he has a chance for a special milestone. In his 20 seasons as the Head Coach of the Bulldogs, Boos has won 498 matches. With a win against the Golden Eagles, he can come one win away from eclipsing the 500-win mark.

STELLAR SELBITSCHKA. Cianna Selbitschka has been the go-to early and often this year for UMD. The sophomore from North Branch, Minn., leads the conference in kills per set with 4.27 and points per set at 5.03, as well as service aces with 20. Selbitschka is top-ten in the nation in total kills, kills per set and points per set, as well as top-25 in service aces. When #6 goes, so do the 'Dogs.

DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE. For as many weapons as the Bulldogs have when they are attacking, they are also super good at the net and in the backrow. A big part of that has been due to the play of Grace Daak and Sydney Lanoue. Daak, the native of Hutchinson, Minn., is fifth in the conference with 42.0 blocks on the season, while Lanoue, the senior is also fifth in the NSIC with 4.59 digs per set on the season.