Pueblo, Colo. – Minnesota Crookston volleyball kicked off their 2024 season and the Steel City Showcase against California State East Bay.
Minnesota Crookston would start each set fast and would sweep the Pioneers (25-22, 25-21, 25-20) for their first 1-0 start since 2019.
Set One
The Golden Eagles would strike first with a huge block from
Carizma Muth (R-Fr., OH, Randolph, Wis.) for a 1-0 lead. The Pioneers would score the next two points.
The maroon and gold would go on a massive 6-0 run, capped off by an attacking error on the Pioneers for a 7-2 lead.
Following that run, the Pioneers would answer with two straight, but
Madison Carsten (So., OH, Wadena, Minn.) and
Maya Jones (So., OH, New Braunfels, Texas) would get back-to-back kills for a 9-4 lead.
The Golden Eagles would lead 15-10, but CSUEB would go on a 4-0 scoring run to cut the lead to 15-14.
The set would be tied at 16, but a
Baily Teveldal (Fr., S, Baltic, S.F.) kill and a Jones service ace would give the Golden Eagles a two point lead at 18-16.
The match would be once again tied at 20, but back-to-back Pioneer errors would force a timeout by the Pioneers with the Golden Eagles leading by a pair.
Minnesota Crookston would score five of the next seven points in the set, capping off a 25-22 set one win for a 1-0 lead in the match.
Set Two
Unlike set one, the Pioneers would strike first in set two for a 1-0 lead. Like set one, the Golden Eagles would go on another huge run.
Muth would get the run started with a kill to knot the set up at one. The Golden Eagles would score seven in a row, finished off by a Carsten kill, forcing a Pioneer timeout.
The Pioneers would eventually cut the lead to three at 8-5, but Carsten would collect a pair of kills to double up on the Pioneers.
Later on in the set, Jones would give the Golden Eagles their six point lead right back with her sixth kill of the match.
The Pioneers would make a run and cut the Golden Eagle lead to 18-14, but three straight points, including an
Emma Malek (So., MB, Plainfield, Ill.) service ace would give the Golden Eagles a 21-14 lead.
Following the timeout, the Pioneers would score five in a row, forcing a
Nick Meseck timeout. The Pioneers would make it 21-20, but Carsten would halt the run with her ninth kill.
Lexi Scharold (Fr., MB, Alexandria, Kent.) would collect a massive block, giving the Golden Eagles set point. Scharold would eventually finish off the set with her first career kill, giving the Golden Eagles a 2-0 match lead.
Set Three
The Golden Eagles would start fast yet again, jumping out to a 3-0 lead, capped off by a Teveldal service ace.
The Pioneers would score three straight points of their own and the set would hold serve from that point. The set would be tied at three, four, five and six.
Minnesota Crookston would go on a 4-0 run, including a booming kill from Muth.
The Golden Eagles would continue to hold serve and eventually take a 17-12 lead, following a Jones kill.
The Pioneers would answer with a 6-0 run, taking their first lead since it was 1-0 in set two at 18-17.
The Golden Eagles would score five in a row after the big run, taking a 22-18 lead.
The Golden Eagles would eventually finish off the Pioneers with back-to-back kills by Muth for the 25-20 victory and the sweep of the Pioneers.
Individual Stats
The Golden Eagles were balanced offensively. Carsten led the way with 11 kills on 35 total attacks. Jones finished with nine kills on 21 total attacks, while Muth finished with a career-high six kills.
Teveldal finished with 24 assists and nine digs in her first career match as a Golden Eagle.
Kailee Waasdorp (So., DS, West Fargo, N.D.) finished with 13 digs and two assists.
The Golden Eagles hit .245 as a team and held the Pioneers to below a .150 attacking percentage. The Golden Eagles also doubled up the Pioneers at the service line, finishing with six service aces, compared to just three for CSUEB.
What's Next
The Golden Eagles will have a quick turnaround, as they play Eastern New Mexico on Friday at 9 A.M., central time.
