Crookston, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston ran into a buzz saw that is No. 1 Wayne State College on Friday night, following to the Wildcats in three sets (13-25, 14-25, 15-25).
 
Minnesota Crookston falls to 3-20 (1-14 NSIC).
 
Set One
It would be a solid start for the Golden Eagles, getting on the board first with an Emma Malek (Fr., RS, Plainfield, Ill.) service ace.
 
Bailey Schaefer (Jr., DS, Brandon, Minn.) and Maya Jones (Fr., OH, New Braunfels, Texas) would each have a kill to tie the match at three.
 
Wayne State would lead 8-5, but the Golden Eagles would score the next two to cut the lead to one.
 
WSC would score eight straight points to take control of the set and win the opening set by 12.
 
Set Two
The Wildcats would assert themselves in the middle set, scoring the first eight points, eventually being halted by a Schaefer kill.
 
The Golden Eagles would try to get back in the match, but it wouldn't be enough as the Wildcats would win the second set, 25-14, to take control of the match.
 
Set Three
Once again, it would be a slow start for the maroon and gold, who would trail early by four.
 
Trailing 9-2, Madison Carsten (Fr., OH, Wadena, Minn.) would collect one of her five kills in the match to cut the lead to six.
 
Trailing by nine midway through set three, the Golden Eagles would get back-to-back kills from Megan Schoenfelder (Fr., MH, Zumbrota, Minn.) and Schaefer would cut the lead in half.
 
The Golden Eagles would try to make it close, but the Wildcats would prove to be too strong, winning the set 25-15 and the match, 3-0.
 
Stats
Schaefer finished with a season best 12 kills on 33 total attacks and also finished with nine digs. Jones finished with seven kills and 10 digs. Carsten and Mara Weisensel (Sr., MH, New Ulm, Minn.) each finished with five kills.
 
Kailee Waasdorp (Fr., DS, West Fargo, N.D.) ended the night with 14 digs, while Malek added a career-high 27 assists.