Crookston, Minn. – Madison Carsten (So., OH, Wadena, Minn.) finished with a career-high 19 kills and Maya Jones (So., OH, New Braunfels, Texas) tied a school record with seven service aces, as the Golden Eagles defeated Bemidji State in a five-set thriller (23-25, 25-16, 25-21, 18-25, 15-8).
 
Minnesota Crookston improves to 7-13 (4-8 NSIC), while the Beavers fall to 7-13 (2-10 NSIC).
 
First Set
The match was off to a nail-biting start in the first set, as the opening set would see a whopping 10 ties and seven lead changes.
 
The Beavers would jump out to a quick 6-2 lead and 8-4 lead, but Carsten would start her career night with a kill.
 
The Golden Eagles would score eight in a row to take a 12-8 lead, as Jones would collect two service aces and Carsten would finish with four kills in the run.
 
The Beavers would answer back and eventually take a 15-14 lead.
 
Baily Teveldal (Fr., S, Baltic, S.D.) would collect a service ace in the midst of a 3-0 run, giving the Golden Eagles another lead at 17-15.
 
Minnesota Crookston would lead by one at 20-19, but a 4-0 scamper by the Beavers would give them a three point advantage. Minnesota Crookston would answer to tie the set up at 23 with a pair of aces from Jones.
 
The Beavers would score the final two points to win the set by a pair.
 
Second Set
In an important second set, the Golden Eagles would answer back.
 
Leading 8-6, the Golden Eagles would go on a 6-0 run to take a 14-6 lead, midway through the set.
 
The Beavers would cut the lead to 14-9, but Emma Malek (So., MH, Plainfield, Ill.) would help the Golden Eagles score five straight, putting the set out of reach at 19-9.
 
The Golden Eagles would win the set by nine.
 
Set Three
The Golden Eagles would put the foot on the gas in the third set.
 
The Beavers would start fast with a 6-2 lead, but the Golden Eagles would go on one of their largest runs of the season; 9-0, as they would take a 12-7 lead following a kill from freshman Lexi Scharold (Fr., MH, Alexandria, Kent.).
 
The Beavers would storm back and cut the Golden Eagle lead to 16-15, but Malek and Jones would collect a kill and Teveldal would collect a service ace, giving the Golden Eagles a little cushion at four.
 
Four would be the final separation in the third set, as the Golden Eagles would win the set and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
Set Four
Minnesota Crookston would start with a 6-3 lead in the do-or-die set for the Beavers, but BSU would continue to answer every call that came their way.
 
The match would be tight, but late in the set, BSU would take a 22-17 lead, following a 3-0 run and the Beavers would pull away for the 25-18 win in set four, forcing a set five.
 
Set Five
In the race to 15, the Golden Eagles would start fast and would be capped off at 5-1, after an ace from Carizma Muth (R-Fr., OH, Randolph, Wis.).
 
Carsten would give the Golden Eagles a 10-3 lead, forcing a BSU timeout.
 
The Beavers would cut the lead to just three, but the Golden Eagles would answer with four straight, including two straight kills from Muth to give the Golden Eagles the set five win and the match win.
 
Individual Stats
Carsten finished with a career-high 19 kills and added 16 digs, her third straight double-double. Muth finished with a double-double as well, adding 13 kills and 15 digs. Jones ended the night with eight kills and those seven service aces.
 
Kailee Waasdorp (So., DS, West Fargo, N.D.) added 19 more digs in the match, while Bailey Schaefer (Sr., DS, Brandon, Minn.) finished with 17. Teveldal added 14 digs and 41 assists, her third straight match with 40 or more assists.
 
The Golden Eagles finished with 15 aces, a season-high and most since September of 2023.
 
What's Next
The Golden Eagles will look for their fourth straight win on Friday, as they host MSU Moorhead at 5 P.M., inside Lysaker Gymnasium.