Pueblo, Colo. – Sitting at 2-0, Minnesota Crookston was looking to continue their best start in 10 years by taking on host school Colorado State Pueblo to close day two of the Steel City Showcase.
The ThunderWolves would prove to be too much on Friday night, sweeping the Golden Eagles (18-25, 16-25, 15-25).
Minnesota Crookston falls to 2-1 on the season.
Set One
The ThunderWolves would jump out to a quick 5-1 start, which would force a
Nick Meseck timeout.
The Golden Eagles would settle in and would make it an 8-5 game following a
Madison Carsten (So., OH, Wadena, Minn.) kill.
The ThunderWolves would take an 11-6 lead, but the Golden Eagles would score four in a row, highlighted by a pair of kills from
Emma Malek (So., MB, Plainfield, Ill.) and
Carizma Muth (R-Fr., OH, Randolph, Wis.).
CSUP would counter with a 5-0 run to take a six point lead, but Malek would continue her outstanding day with another kill, halting the run.
Trailing 19-15,
Maya Jones (So., OH, New Braunfels, Texas) would collect a massive kill to cut the lead to just three, but the ThunderWolves would answer with three straight of their own for a 22-16 lead, forcing a Golden Eagle timeout.
The Golden Eagles would try to get back in the set, but the ThunderWolves would finish out the set with the six point win in set one.
Set Two
The Golden Eagles would strike first in set one following an attacking error by the ThunderWolves.
The match would swing like a pendulum through the first 15 points of the set, but the Golden Eagles would take a 7-6 lead following a
Baily Teveldal (Fr., S, Baltic, S.D.) service ace.
The ThunderWolves would use some solid offense to go on a 5-0 run to take an 11-7 lead.
The Golden Eagles would try to chip away at the lead, but CSUP would prove to be too strong, winning the set 25-16.
Set Three
Once again, the Golden Eagles would strike first with an attacking error by the ThunderWolves.
CSUP would answer with two in a row, but another thunderous kill from Jones would tie the set at two.
In the third set, the ThunderWolves would take a 10-6 lead, but the Golden Eagles would make it a one point game, highlighted by a pair of aces from Teveldal and
Kailee Waasdorp (So., DS, West Fargo, N.D.).
Trailing by three at 14-11, the Golden Eagles would once again make it a one point set at 14-13, following a kill from Jones and an ace by Malek.
CSUP would eventually go on a 4-0 run to regain a five point lead, which would be halted by a
Lexi Scharold (Fr., MB, Alexandria, Kent.) kill.
The ThunderWolves would go on to finish off the Golden Eagles and sweep the nightcap of the Steel City Showcase.
Individual Stats
The Golden Eagles were led by Jones, who finished with six kills on 20 total swings. Malek and Scharold were each strong in the middle, finishing with four kills apiece.
Teveldal finished with 16 assists and seven digs in the match.
What's Next
The Golden Eagles will close out the Steel City Showcase tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 P.M., central time, against Lubbock Christian.
