Aberdeen, S.D. – Minnesota Crookston volleyball gave Northern State a scare on Saturday afternoon in Wachs Arena, but the Wolves, who received national votes this season were able to prevail in four sets (24-26, 14-25, 25-22, 16-25).
 
Minnesota Crookston falls to 1-9 (0-2 NSIC), while the Wolves improve to 7-3 (2-0 NSIC).
 
Set One
In set one, Minnesota Crookston would use a pair of Wolves errors and back-to-back kills from Charlee Krieg (Jr., OH, Cavalier, N.D.) and Audrey Cariveau (Fr., OH, Kevil, Kent.) helped the Golden Eagles jump out to a 4-0 lead.
 
As one would expect from the NSIC power, NSU would eventually take a 14-9 lead, but the Golden Eagles wouldn't go away.
 
The Golden Eagles seemed to always be within two or three points and would eventually tie things up at 24 on two straight kills from Krieg.
 
The Wolves would get two kills from Sally Gaul to win the first set 26-24.
 
Set Two
In Set two, the Wolves would go on a pair of 4-0 runs and would eventually lead 16-11 in the middle set.
 
A pair of kills from Maria Jose Bustos Garcia (R-Sr., MH, Cartagena, Columbia) and Bailey Schaefer (So., OH, Brandon, Minn.) would get the Golden Eagles back within four.
 
A big run would help the Wolves win the second set by 11 at 25-14.
 
Set Three
Much like they did yesterday against MSUM, the Golden Eagles would show resiliency and win the third set.
 
They would be helped by a 6-2 lead, helped by a Mara Weisensel (Jr., MH, New Ulm, Minn.) kill and a kill from an unlikely subject; Layne Whaley (So., DS, Ashland, Neb.) who collected her first kill of the season.
 
Minnesota Crookston lead the entire set and would extend their lead to 16-13 on a Weisensel kill. NSU would eventually tie things up at 17, but the Golden Eagles would respond, including a service ace from Kora Norland (So., S, Fosston, Minn.).
 
The Wolves would get within one again, but Krieg and Weisensel would finish them off with a pair of kills to get back in the match.
 
Set Four
Minnesota Crookston would take that momentum and bring it into a must-win set four.
 
Trailing 3-2, the Golden Eagles would score six-straight points, highlighted by a pair of service aces by Whaley to take an 8-3 lead.
 
The Golden Eagles would eventually lead 15-10, but the Wolves would show their strength, scoring 13 in a row. Cariveau would collect a kill to halt the run, but it was too little, too late for the maroon and gold, who would fall in set four, 25-16.
 
Individual Stats
The Golden Eagles would be led by Krieg and Weisensel, who finished with 14 and 10 kills, respectively. Weisensel hit .333, her fifth match of the season hitting over .300. Cariveau continued her strong weekend with 10 kills on 37 total attacks.
 
Natalie Koke (R-Sr., S, Caledonia, Wis.) had 35 assists and nine digs in the match. Whaley and Cariveau had 14 and 11 digs in the match, respectively.
 
What's Next
The Golden Eagles will finally be back at home next weekend for a pair of matches with Minot State and the University of Mary. First serve with the Beavers is set for 6 P.M., on Friday night from Lysaker Gymnasium. It is the annual 'Gold Out'.