Crookston, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston would have a lead in every set, but Bemidji State was able to defeat the Golden Eagles in four sets (22-25, 25-27, 25-15, 18-25) on Thursday night in Crookston.
 
Minnesota Crookston falls to 3-14 (1-8 NSIC).
 
Set One
Bemidji State would jump out to a quick 3-0 lead, but Emma Malek (Fr., MH, Plainfield, Ill.) would halt the early start with a kill.
 
BSU would extend their lead to 5-1, but the Golden Eagles would fight back and eventually take an 8-6 lead, highlighted by kills from Maya Jones (Fr., OH, New Braunfels, Texas) and Madison Carsten (Fr., OH, Wadena, Minn.).
 
The Golden Eagles would take a 13-9 lead, forcing a Beaver timeout.
 
The set would be tied at 21, but the Beavers would score the next three points, making it too little, too late for the Golden Eagles.
 
BSU would win the set by three.
 
Set two
The Beavers would score the first two points of the middle set, but kills from Malek and Carsten would tie things up at two apiece.
 
The set would see a whopping 19 ties and six lead changes.
 
BSU would take an 18-15 lead, but three straight points by the maroon and gold would tie things up at 18.
 
The Golden Eagles would knot things up at 23 and eventually take a 25-24 lead on a huge Jones swing. In fact, it was back-to-back kills from Jones to help give the Golden Eagles a one point lead and set point.
 
BSU would score the final three points of the set to win the crucial set by a pair.
 
Set Three
Set three would start out a lot like the previous two sets: nip and tuck.
 
The Golden Eagles would trail 10-8, but would go on a 6-0 run behind the outstanding serving of Kailee Waasdorp (Fr., DS, West Fargo, N.D.).
 
The Golden Eagles would go on another run, taking a 19-11 lead behind the serving of Dana Melby (R-Fr., S, Gonvick, Minn.).
 
Mara Weisensel (Sr., MH, New Ulm, Minn.) would end the dominating set with one of her six kills.
 
Set Four
Kind of like their counterpart in set number three, the Beavers would control the fourth set using a large run.
 
Minnesota Crookston would try to chip away and would get within five a couple of times, but the Beavers would finish the set and the match.
 
Stats
Jones and Carsten were absolutely outstanding. Jones finished with 15 kills on 28 total attacks on a career-high .464 attacking percentage. Carsten finished with 14 kills on 30 total attacks, hitting a career-high .400. Audrey Cariveau (So., OH, Kevil, Kent.) finished with nine kills. Malek tied her career-high with seven kills.
 
Carsten finished with 10 digs and her fourth career double-double. Melby also finished with a double-double, adding 11 digs and 44 assists.
 
What's Next
The Golden Eagles will be on the road on Saturday at another ranked opponent. Minnesota Duluth is the opponent on Saturday in Duluth. First serve is set for 4 P.M.