SPEARFISH, S.D. - The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team opened the 2024 Yellow Jacket Classic with a 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-11) loss to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Friday, September 13 at the Donald E. Young Center in Spearfish, S.D.

The Golden Eagles dropped to 2-3 with Friday morning's loss to the Hardrockers. South Dakota Mines improved to 2-3 with the victory. Minnesota Crookston is off to their best start since the 2018 season.

Stats Leaders

The Golden Eagles were led by Maya Jones (So., OH/RS, New Braunfels, Texas), who continued her strong start to the season with 11 kills. Jones hit .167 for the match. Carizma Muth (R-Fr., OH, Randolph, Wis.), and Emma Malek (So., MH, Plainfield, Ill.) each added four kills. 

Baily Teveldal (Fr., Baltic, S.D.) guided the offense with 20 assists, defensively she chipped in nine digs.

On the defensive end, Minnesota Crookston was lifted by Kailee Waasdorp (So., Lib., West Fargo, N.D.) with 20 digs. Madison Carsten (So., OH, Wadena, Minn.) added 11 digs. Carsten guided the block with two block assists. 

Team Stats

Minnesota Crookston hit .016 for the match, while the Hardrockers hit .256. The best set in the match for the Golden Eagles was the second set, in which they hit .119 with 12 kills and seven errors. South Dakota Mines out-blocked the Golden Eagles 10-2, and had 45 kills to 24 for Minnesota Crookston.

Set-By-Set

The Golden Eagles jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in set one following a Jones kill. South Dakota Mines rattled off seven-straight points to take an 8-3 advantage lifted by Annelise Larson. Minnesota Crookston rallied and pulled within 13-11 after kills from Jones and Muth, along with a bad set by the Hardrockers. However, South Dakota Mines closed the frame out on a 12-4 run to take the 1-0 advantage.

The Hardrockers built off their first-set momentum heading into set two. South Dakota Mines took the early 4-1 advantage. Minnesota Crookston rallied and pulled within 6-5 on a Joy Aburto attack error. The Golden Eagles remained within striking distance at 12-10 after a Malek kill. The Hardrockers countered with three-straight points, as a Hannah Benes service ace made it 15-10. The Golden Eagles stayed in it, pulling within 22-19 following a Teveldal service ace. South Dakota Mines took the set taking three of the last four points to win 25-20. 

The Hardrockers jumped out to an early 4-2 lead following an Emma Grimm kill in set three. Minnesota Crookston came within two points (9-7) after a Muth kill. South Dakota Mines responded by taking 6-of-7 points to move to a 15-8 advantage. The Golden Eagles were unable to make a dent in the lead from there, falling 25-11 in the set, and 3-0 in the match.

Next Up
The Golden Eagles continue play in Spearfish, S.D., by taking on Black Hills State University Friday, September 13 at 7 p.m.