Crookston, Minn. – After falling 25-9 in the first set, Minnesota Crookston rallied past MSU Moorhead on Saturday afternoon in five sets (9-25, 25-21, 25-22, 17-25, 15-10) to send their three seniors out on a very high note.
Natalie Koke (R-Sr., S, Caledonia, Wis.) saved her best for last, finishing with 53 assists, tying a career-high.
With their first win over the Dragons since 2017, the Golden Eagles finish 5-23 (4-16 NSIC), while MSUM finishes at 8-20 (5-15 NSIC).
Set One
The Golden Eagles would take an early 2-1 lead on a pair of
Audrey Cariveau (Fr., OH, Kevil, Kent.) kills, but the Dragons would score the next five.
Charlee Krieg (Jr., OH, Cavalier, N.D.) would help the Golden Eagles get back within one at 6-5.
MSUM would take complete control of the set, scoring the next 11 points for a 17-5 lead, which would be enough for the first set victory.
Set Two
The Golden Eagles would quickly regroup and score the first four points of the set, capped off by a
Kora Norland (So., S, Fosston, Minn.) service ace.
From that point, the Dragons would fight back and the middle set would be tied four different times, until the Golden Eagles would score two straight points for an 11-9 lead.
Tied at 13, the maroon and gold would use some Dragons errors to take a 16-13 lead. Later, a kill from Cariveau would start a run that would give the Golden Eagles set point.
After the Dragons would score four straight, Krieg would say "no more", finishing the set with a kill, knotting the match up at one apiece.
Set Three
In the ever important third set, both teams would go back-and-forth for a majority of the set.
MSUM would eventually take an 11-8 lead, but two kills from Cariveau and one from
Mara Weisensel (Jr., MB, New Ulm, Minn.) would tie things at 11.
Minnesota Crookston would take a 14-12 lead, but the Dragons would respond, taking a 19-17 lead, forcing a
Nick Meseck timeout.
A Koke kill would send Lysaker Gymnasium into a frenzy, but more importantly, it tied the set up at 20.
Grace Arndorfer (So., MB, Lino Lakes, Minn.) would put a big swing on a free ball, ending the third set with a 25-22 lead.
Set Four
The Dragons would need a win in the fourth set to force a decisive fifth set.
Weisensel would collect back-to-back kills putting the Golden Eagles up 9-7, but the Dragons would find their footing and take a 20-13 lead.
Krieg would halt the run momentarily, but the Dragons would pull away to win the fourth set by eight.
Set Five
A kill from Weisensel and a service ace from
Bailey Schaefer (So., OH, Brandon, Minn.) would help the Golden Eagles score the first two points of the set.
Both teams would be tied at three, but an Arndorfer kill would help Minnesota Crookston start to pull away. Koke would follow up the Arndorfer kill with two straight service aces. Krieg would follow up those service aces with kills on back-to-back rallies for an 8-3 lead.
MSUM would try to fight back, but the Golden Eagles would do a great job of siding out. A Schaefer ace would put the Golden Eagles at match point.
The Dragons would go on a mini 2-0 run, but a booming swing from Weisensel would send the Golden Eagles faithful home happy with the 15-10 win and 3-2 win in the match.
Individual Stats
Cariveau wrapped up her outstanding freshman season with 20 kills on 54 total attacks, good for a .259 attacking percentage, the second best of her young career. Weisensel put a bow on her outstanding junior season, finishing with 15 kills on 26 total attacks and just three errors. Krieg finishes with 10 kills.
Four Golden Eagles finished with 10 or more digs.
Layne Whaley (So., DS, Ashland, Neb.) finished with a career-high 26 digs, while Schaefer finished with 20 digs. Koke and
Madison Klimek (Sr., DS, Oakdale, Minn.) finished with 14 and 10 digs, respectively, on senior day.
Thank You Seniors
The Golden Eagles celebrated three seniors to close out 2022. Klimek, Koke and
Maria Jose Bustos Garcia (R-Sr., MH, Cartagena, Colombia) all played their last game as a Golden Eagle. We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.
