Bemidji, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston volleyball made the trek down Highway-2 for a Thursday match with the Bemidji State Beavers. It's the first match between the two programs, who will also meet in less than two weeks in Crookston.
 
Minnesota Crookston would win the first and third sets by a pair and control the fourth set for the four set win (26-24, 17-25, 25-23, 25-13).
 
Minnesota Crookston moves to 4-11 (1-6 NSIC) on the season.
 
Set One
The Beavers would jump out to a quick 3-0 lead, but an attacking error by BSU would open the floodgates for a 5-0 run, capped off by the first kill from Carizma Muth (R-Fr., OH, Randolph, Wis.).
 
Trailing by a pair, the Beavers would regain a two point lead at 7-5, but another big run, this time a 4-0 run, would give the Golden Eagles another two point lead, bookended by a Maya Jones (So., OH, New Braunfels, Texas).
 
Megan Schoenfelder (So., MH, Zumbrota, Minn.) would give the Golden Eagles their largest lead of the set at 12-9, following a big swing.
 
Later on in the set, the Beavers would have a two point lead on two different instances, but both times would see the Golden Eagles bounce back and would take a 20-18 lead, forcing a BSU timeout.
 
The set would be tied at 24, but Muth would collect back-to-back kills to give the Golden Eagles the all-important set one win.
 
Set Two
The second set would see the Golden Eagles jump out to an early 2-1 lead, but BSU would take control of the set from that point.
 
They would take a 7-3 lead, but a Madison Carsten (So., OH, Wadena, Minn.) kill would halt the run for the moment with a kill.
 
Emma Malek (So., MH, Plainfield, Ill.) would cut the deficit to just four at 11-7, but the Beavers would score the next two to retake control of the set.
 
Minnesota Crookston would get as close as four, but the Beavers would pull away for the eight point win in set two.
 
Set Three
Set three would be the definition of wild. The Golden Eagles would take an early lead on a kill from Malek.
 
Following that kill, the set would be tight. Jones would collect a kill, giving her team a 6-5 lead, but the Beavers would answer with three straight, for an 8-6 lead.
 
BSU would stretch their lead to 12-9, but the Golden Eagles would get back in the set.
 
A Carsten service ace would tie the set at 16 and the Golden Eagles would take a 20-19 lead, forcing a BSU timeout.
 
Following the timeout, the Beavers would score four in a row, which would force a Nick Meseck timeout.
 
The timeout would work. The Golden Eagles would score five in a row, including three service aces from Muth, giving the Golden Eagles the two point win in the set.
 
Set Four
Looking to close out the match, it would be all Golden Eagles.
 
The Golden Eagles would lead from the jump and following a Kailee Waasdorp (So., DS/Lib., West Fargo, N.D.) service ace, the maroon and gold would have an eight point lead.
 
The Golden Eagles would finish out the set and win, 25-13, in controlling fashion.
 
Individual Stats
Jones and Muth were fantastic, finishing with 13 kills each. Muth also finished with 13 digs, her fourth career double-double. Carsten finished with eight kills and 10 digs. Malek added seven and Schoenfelder added five kills in the match.
 
Baily Teveldal (Fr., S, Baltic, S.D.) added 35 assists, while Waasdorp collected 21 digs. The Golden Eagles finished with eight service aces. Malek finished with a career-high nine blocks in the match, as well.
 
What's Next
Minnesota Crookston will be back at home on Saturday, as they take on nationally ranked Minnesota Duluth at 2 P.M.