Pueblo, Colo. – Minnesota Crookston volleyball was looking to close out their trip out west to the Steel City Showcase with a 3-1 record. To get there, they had to get past Lubbock Christian University, who was also 2-1 on the young season.
 
It was a marathon and a thriller, but the Lady Chaps would win the last two sets by a pair each, defeating the Golden Eagles in five sets (25-20, 19-25, 26-24, 23-25, 13-15).
 
Minnesota Crookston closes out the Steel City Showcase with a 2-2 record.

Set One
The Golden Eagles would strike first on an attacking error by the Lady Chaps and they would eventually take a 3-1 lead on a kill from Maya Jones (So., OH, New Braunfels, Texas) and a service ace from Carizma Muth (R-Fr., OH, Randolph, Wis.).
 
From that point, the first set would see six different ties, as both teams would side out one.
 
The Lady Chaps would take their largest lead of the set to that point at 12-10, but another Jones kill would cut the LCU lead to one at 12-11.
 
LCU would go on a 3-0 run to take a 15-11 lead, but the Golden Eagles would chip away at the lead on knot the set up at 17 following a Baily Teveldal (Fr., S, Baltic, S.D.) service ace. A net violation would give the Golden Eagles their first lead since they were up 8-7.
 
Tied at 19, the Golden Eagles would score two in a row after another LCU error and a Madison Carsten (So., OH, Wadena, Minn.) kill.
 
Emma Malek (So., MB, Plainfield, Ill.) would continue her outstanding weekend with a service ace, making it 22-19 in favor of the maroon and gold.
 
The Lady Chaps would cut the set to 22-20, but a massive block from Carsten and Lexi Scharold (Fr., MB, Alexandria, Kent.) and the serving of Jones would get the Golden Eagles to the finish line in the first set, 25-20.
 
Set Two
The first two points of the set would go to the Golden Eagles, but a number of attacking errors by the Golden Eagles would give LCU five straight points and a 5-2 lead.
 
The Golden Eagles would clean it up offensively and would score eight of the next ten points in the set for a 10-7 lead, forcing an LCU timeout.
 
LCU would score six in a row and take a 13-11 lead, but a service error would halt the run and make it a one point set.
 
The Golden Eagles would get within one point on three different occasions following that point, but LCU would get the lead back up to four at 20-16.
 
The Golden Eagles would try to make a late run, but LCU would close out the Golden Eagles for the six point, set two win.
 
Set Three
The two teams would go back-and-forth through the first six points, but the Golden Eagles would score four in a row, catapulted by a Jones solo block.
 
Much like they did in the middle set, the Lady Chaps would chip away at the lead and eventually take a 15-11 lead, but a net violation would halt the 5-0 run and make it 15-12.
 
The Golden Eagles would trail 20-15, but a Carsten kill would open up a 5-1 run, which would cut the lead to 21-20, following a Malek kill.
 
The Golden Eagles would eventually tie it at 24, fighting off two set points. Another massive Jones kill would give the Golden Eagles set point at 25-24.
 
Carsten would say enough of the set, I'll finish it myself. She would find the line and end the set for the Golden Eagles, 26-24.
 
Set Four
The Golden Eagles would get off to a fast start in the potential put away set. Minnesota Crookston would take a 7-2 lead, finished off by a Carsten kill, forcing a Keith Giboney timeout.
 
Following the timeout, the Golden Eagles would make it 8-2, following yet another solo block from Jones.
 
From that point, it would be the Lady Chaps who would answer with a big run and eventually make it 15-9.
 
The Golden Eagles would get back in the set by making it 15-12, but four straight by LCU would make it a touchdown and a field goal lead for LCU.
 
The Golden Eagles would continue to chip away by using the right arms of Carsten and Jones. The Golden Eagles would trail 24-23 and a long rally would result in set point for the Lady Chaps, meaning for the first time in 2024, we would head to a decisive fifth set.
 
Set Five
As has been a theme in the opening weekend, the Golden Eagles would get off to a great start in the race to 15.
 
Muth would collect a kill, Jones and Malek would assist on a black and Teveldal would collect another service ace for a quick 3-0 lead.
 
LCU would answer right back and would make it an 8-6 lead. The Lady Chaps thought they had a 9-6 lead, but a Nick Meseck challenge determined that a ball that went out of bounds was touched at the net, making it an 8-7 set.
 
Later on in the set, Malek would collect a huge solo block to give the Golden Eagles a one point lead, but LCU would answer with two in a row, forcing a Golden Eagle timeout.
 
The Golden Eagles would lead 13-12, but a 3-0 run from the Lady Chaps would give them the set and match win.
 
Individual Stats
The Golden Eagles were led by Carsten, who finished with 16 kills on 51 total attacks. Carsten finished with a double-double as well, digging out 14 attacking attempts. Jones and Muth each finished with 13 kills. Both of which each finished with a double-double, as well.
 
Kailee Waasdorp (So., DS, West Fargo, N.D.) finished the match with a team high 22 digs. Teveldal continues to shine as a freshman, finishing the match with 44 assists.
 
The Golden Eagles also finished with 11 service aces.
 
What's Next
The Golden Eagles will continue non-conference play next weekend with the Yellow Jacket classic, hosted by Black Hills State. The Golden Eagles will meet the South Dakota School of Mines on Friday at 9 A.M.