Crookston, Minn. – After playing two straight top-ten teams in Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State, Minnesota Crookston volleyball will play an unranked opponent on Tuesday night against Bemidji State.
 
The Golden Eagles have beaten the Beavers already this season; a four set win in Bemidji. The Golden Eagles will look for their first season sweep of their Highway-2 rivals since 2017.
 
How to Follow
Bemidji State @ Minnesota Crookston
6 PM
Live Stats - https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wvball/media
Watch Live - https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
 
Minnesota Crookston (3-20, 2-13 NSIC)
·         This Should be Fun. When both of these programs meet, it is almost guaranteed to be a fun one. Since 2014, these two teams have gone more than the normal three sets a whopping eight times, with both the Beavers and Golden Eagles having won four apiece. When the Golden Eagles traveled to Bemidji earlier this season, it was much of the same in the four set win for the Golden Eagles. The last set went the longest it has all season for Minnesota Crookston, who won the set 29-27. It should be a fun one on Tuesday night against the Beavers.
·         The Arrival of Audrey. When freshman Audrey Cariveau finished with 29 kills on 82 total swings earlier this season against UMary, Minnesota Crookston knew that they had a star. Now, 11 matches later, that sentiment stays true. Ever since she had just six combined kills against Wayne State College and Augustana, the Kevil, Kent., native has been dynamite. In the seven matches since that weekend against the Wildcats and Vikings, Cariveau is averaging 10 kills, which leads her team in that stretch and has eight kills in every match but one in that stretch. Cariveau has become more consistent and that will be huge for the Golden Eagles in the future.
·         On our Way to Dig. One of the Golden Eagles who have improved since 2021 is sophomore Layne Whaley. Whaley has given first-year head coach Nick Meseck a consistent presence in the back row. The Ashland, Neb., native currently has 273 digs on the season and 3.37 digs per set, which leads her squad and both rank in the top-15 of the NSIC. Whaley has already topped her career-high of digs and double-digit dig performances this season. Whaley has been a big reason as to why the Golden Eagles have improved in 2022.
·         Schaefer was Solid. Against a top-ten team, the Golden Eagles needed to have a number of good performances if they wanted to pull off the upset. Sophomore Bailey Schaefer knew that and had her most consistent match this season. The Brandon, Minn., native finished with nine kills on 19 total attacks and had just three attacking errors. The .319 attacking percentage for the second-year Golden Eagle was a career-high. Schaefer will look to continue that success tomorrow night against the Beavers.
 
Bemidji State (3-20, 2-13 NSIC)
·         Mertz Wants More. Hallie Mertz has been the go-to this season for her Beavers squad. The junior from Harrisburg, S.D., leads her Beavers in kills (209), aces (20) and digs (158). Mertz was good last time she faced the Golden Eagles, finishing with 14 kills on 34 total attacks. Mertz will look for more of the same tomorrow against Minnesota Crookston.
·         Something Has To Give. When the Beavers come to town tomorrow night, something will have to give. Both the Beavers and Golden Eagles allow their opponents to hit a very high percentage. Minnesota Crookston allows an attacking percentage of .269, while BSU is allowing an attacking percentage of .238. It will be something to watch; Minnesota Crookston hit .225, which was a season-high in the four set victory over BSU earlier this year. Can the Beavers flip the script?
·         Which Way is East? Ashley East, the native of McFarland, Wis., has been solid this season for the Beavers. Her .196 attacking percentage is the second most on her team and has 102 kills, despite having just the fourth most attacks for the Beavers. East has made the most out of her limited chances this season. The junior finished with 10 kills on 17 total attacks earlier this season in a match against Sioux Falls.