Marquette, Mich. – Minnesota Crookston volleyball opened up the
Nick Meseck era on Thursday night in the opening match of the NMU open. Minnesota Crookston would fall in three sets to host school Northern Michigan (17-25, 18-25, 16-25).
The Golden Eagles fall to 0-1 on the young season.
Set One
The Wildcats would get off to a quick start in the opening set, scoring the first three points, but the Golden Eagles would answer with the next four, highlighted by a trio of errors by NMU and the first career collegiate kill for
Audrey Cariveau (Fr., OH, Kevil, Kent.). Cariveau collected seven kills in her first career match.
The two teams would go back-and-forth, being tied six separate times in the middle of the first set. Minnesota Crookston would take a brief 12-11 lead, but NMU would answer with a 4-0 run of their own.
The Wildcats would eventually take a 21-14 lead and that would be enough to take set one by a score of 25-17.
Set Two
The second set would see the Wildcats lead wire-to-wire. NMU would lead 5-1, but a
Charlee Krieg (Jr., OH, Cavalier, N.D.) kill would get the Golden Eagles back within three at 5-2.
NMU would take a lead as large as nine at 15-6, but another Wildcat service error and
Maria Jose Bustos Garcia (R-Sr., MH, Cartagena, Columbia) would cut the lead to 15-8.
The maroon and gold would get as close as six points, but NMU would go up two sets to none with a 25-18 win in the second set.
Set Three
The Golden Eagles would get off to an excellent start in set three, taking a 4-2 lead through the first six points, using the strength of Cariveau and her back-to-back aces.
The Golden Eagles would hold a number of two point leads in the set, but after trailing 12-10, NMU would score four straight to take a two point lead of their own at 14-12.
Mara Weisensel (Jr., MH, New Ulm, Minn.) would get the Golden Eagles back within one at 14-13 with a kill.
From that point on, NMU would score 11 of the set's next 14 points to earn the 25-16 set three win and the sweep.
Individual Stats
Cariveau led the way with seven kills on 24 total attacks, which also led the Golden Eagles.
Natalie Koke (R-Sr., S, Caledonia, Wis.) finished with six kills on 12 total attacks and 18 assists. Weisensel finished with five kills, while Krieg had four kills.
Bailey Schaefer (So., OH, Brandon, Minn.) collected nine digs, which led her team.
What's Next
The Golden Eagles will look to rebound tomorrow afternoon as they take on NSIC foe Upper Iowa, in non-conference play. First serve is set for 2 P.M., from Marquette, Mich.
