Winona, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston volleyball dominated the third set at Winona State, but it wasn't enough, as the Warriors would win the match in four sets (16-25, 17-25, 25-12, 14-25).
 
Minnesota Crookston falls to 7-17 (4-12 NSIC).
 
First Set
Minnesota Crookston would jump out to an early lead at 5-3, following a Madison Carsten (So., OH, Wadena, Minn.) kill.
 
The Warriors would score four in a row and take a 7-5 lead, but kills from Carsten and Carizma Muth (R-Fr., OH, Randolph, Wis.) would knot the set up at seven.
 
Following a ball handling error by the Warriors, the Golden Eagles would lead 11-9, but five in a row would give WSU a three-point lead.
 
Maya Jones (So., OH, New Braunfels, Texas) would get the maroon and gold back within two following the first of her eight kills.
 
The Warriors would pull away from that point and win the first set by nine.
 
Second Set
Once again, the Golden Eagles would have an early lead, after Emma Malek (So., MH, Plainfield, Ill.) would finish off one of her team high 13 kills, for a 4-3 lead.
 
WSU would go on a large run and take a 14-6 lead, but the Golden Eagles would start to chip away. Malek would finish off a pair of kills in the midst of a 4-0 run, cutting the Warrior lead to 14-10.
 
The Golden Eagles would use a massive duo block from Malek and Carsten to cut the lead to 18-16 later on in the set, but the Warriors would score the last seven points, earning the second set victory.
 
Third Set
The third set would be all Golden Eagles.
 
Muth would start and 4-0 run early on in the set and Malek would bookend the run with a kill for a 12-5 Golden Eagle lead.
 
The Golden Eagles would go on another 4-0 run, their third of the set, which would be started by a Malek kill and a Muth service ace would give the Golden Eagles a 20-9 lead.
 
The fourth 4-0 run of the set would win the third set for the Golden Eagles, as Jones would collect a service ace, for the 25-12 third set win.
 
Fourth Set
Looking to head to the fifth set, the Golden Eagles would need the fourth set.
 
Early on in the set, Carsten would tie the match at three, but the Golden Eagles would get within one on five different occasions, but couldn't tie the set up.
 
The Warriors would take a 14-9 lead, but Megan Schoenfelder (So., MH, Zumbrota, Minn.) would collect a kill to cut the Warrior lead to just three at 14-11.
 
That's as close as they would get, as the Warriors would win the fourth set and the match, 3-1.
 
Individual Stats
Malek was outstanding, finishing with 13 kills on 32 total attacks. Muth and Jones each ended the match with eight kills, while Carsten added five kills.
 
Baily Teveldal (Fr., S, Baltic, S.D.) added 32 more assists, while Kailee Waasdorp (So., DS, West Fargo, N.D.) added 27 more digs in the match.
 
What's Next
The Golden Eagles will close out 2024 next weekend at home, starting with a Friday match against nationally-ranked Concordia-St. Paul. First serve is set for 6 P.M.