Women's Volleyball | 10/9/2024 1:10:00 PM

#TIDBITS

Golden Eagle volleyball will have another single match weekend this upcoming weekend when they head to Sioux Falls to take on the University of Sioux Falls. A weird quirk in the schedule sees the next four matches on a Friday, Thursday, Saturday, Tuesday, all of which are in NSIC play. The Golden Eagles fell this past weekend at home to a pair of really good opponents, but the Golden Eagles played good volleyball and will look for their first win in NSIC play this season as they head to the Stewart Center for a match with the Cougars.

·   DECADE LONG STREAK BROKEN. Minnesota Crookston played outstanding volleyball on Saturday, albeit in a four-set loss to the Golden Eagles. Minnesota Crookston won the first set against Augustana in controlling fashion. The win for the Golden Eagles was their first set win over the Vikings since Nov. 2014. In 2013, the Golden Eagles and Vikings played the second longest set in NCAA Division II history, in which the maroon and gold won 37-35 in the second set.

• SCHEDULING ODDITY. This Friday night's match against Sioux Falls starts the four match stretch of matches for the Golden Eagles that they aren't exactly used to. Following the match against the Cougars, the Golden Eagles will then head to Bemidji State for a Thursday night match and are back at home against the Bulldogs of Minnesota Duluth. Following that match against the ranked Bulldogs, Minnesota Crookston heads to St. Cloud for their second and final match with No. 5 St. Cloud State on the following Tuesday. It's going to be a weird stretch for the Golden Eagles in the upcoming week or so.

·  STRONG LIKE SCHAEFER. Bailey Schaefer has seen a lot in her time as a Golden Eagle. The senior is on her second head coach and her third assistant coach as a senior. One thing that has never wavered is the fact that Schaefer can play a ton of spots and will perform wherever Nick Meseck puts her. Schaefer has the most digs for a non-starter on the Golden Eagles, including a career-high 29 digs earlier this year in a loss to Black Hills State. Schaefer has more than five digs in all but one match this season, including 12 straight matches. Schaefer has been a reliable player in the back row for the maroon and gold this season.

·   MORE FOR MUTH.  Carizma Muth was solid this past weekend against a pair of really good opponents. In Saturday's match against Augustana, Muth collected her third double-double of her career, all of which have come this season, after finishing with 12 kills and 12 digs. Muth has been good in her redshirt freshman season and has added another element to the dangerous Golden Eagle offensive attack.

·    SHOW ME AN ACE. This past weekend, it was evident that the Golden Eagles have made a ton of huge strides this season. That includes at the service line. Against one of the better receiving teams in the conference, Wayne State, the Golden Eagles were able to find the floor on six serves, compared to just four errors. On Saturday, the Golden Eagles finished with five, including  four service aces from Madison Carsten. It was an outstanding weekend in that aspect and the Golden Eagles will look to continue that this Friday.

·   THE MAGICIAN. Could Emma Malek be a magician? Maybe, but for now, she's having a great season as a volleyball player. The sophomore from Plainfield, Ill., has been great in the middle, leading the Golden Eagles with 23 blocks and has 11 service aces as well. Offensively, Malek has 77 kills and an attacking percentage of .184. Malek finished with 15 kills and had attacking percentages of higher than .230 in both matches. Malek has been fantastic this season.

• STAT STUFFER. Normally, the term 'stat-stuffer' is used in basketball, but what Baily Teveldal did last Saturday seems to fit the bill of her name showing up in a ton of different categories. First off, the freshman setter finished with a career-high five kills on 11 total attacks, tied for the second most in her young career. Secondly, she finished with 10 digs. Lastly and least surprising, she finished with 33 assists against the Vikings, her fourth straight match with more than 25 assists. She did it all on her birthday, as well, putting the cherry on top of her cake on a fantastic Saturday for the Baltic, S.D., native.

·   KEY TO THE CARS. Maddie Carsten is another one of the fantastic underclassmen that Nick Meseck has at his disposal. The native of Wadena, Carsten is tied with Muth for second most in kills at 110 and she has four double-doubles on the season, including a stretch where she had three in a row. Carsten leads the Golden Eagles in service aces and is second in digs on the season. The Golden Eagles ask Carsten to do a lot on the floor and she never comes off the floor, starting in every match and playing in every set, as well.


Team Information
2024 Record: 3-10


How to Follow

Minnesota Crookston @ Sioux Falls
Friday, Oct. 11
6 P.M.
Sioux Falls, S.D. / Stewart Center
Live Stats -- https://usfcougars.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
Watch Live -- https://nsicnetwork.com/usfcougars/


#OPPONENTOUTLOOK

SIOUX FALLS. Sioux Falls is off to a 9-6 overall record and 4-3 in NSIC play, including a massive win just last week in Duluth at Minnesota Duluth. The Cougars fell on Tuesday night in three sets to Concordia-St. Paul, which kicked off a three match week for the Coo. Sioux Falls hosts Minnesota Crookston on Friday and then Bemidji State on Saturday.

STRUGGLE TO RECEIVE. In their three set loss to the Golden Bears, Sioux Falls didn't play as bad as the match score might indicate. One indication of the sweep for CSP could be pointed to the service line. The Cougars finished the match with just one service ace, had three service aces and finished with a whopping 12 reception errors. It's the fourth time this season that USF has had more than 10 reception errors. In comparison, Minnesota Crookston has no matches with more than 10 this season. That's something to keep an eye on this Friday.

TRIFECTA OF ATTACKERS. The Cougars can attack opposing defenses in a number of different ways when they have an attack. The Cougars have three different hitters with more than 150 kills, led by Sadie Voss and her 156. The Cougars also have Jordyn Hamm, who has 107 kills on the year. USF is dangerous offensively and they will be a tough offense to crack for the Golden Eagles this Friday.

DIFFERENT LOOK. It's more rare nowadays, but the Cougars have two outstanding setters to go along with their outstanding attackers. The Cougars have two different setters that rank in the top-20 in the NSIC in assists, as Elise Gillen is 11th in assists and Liz Kopp is 17th in the Northern Sun. Both have each played in 57 sets, but Gillen has started all 15 matches. It's a dangerous proposition when opponents don't know who the main setter will be.