Crookston, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston was oh so close to pulling off one of their biggest wins in program history on Thursday night, but No. 17 Minnesota Duluth won the final two sets to avoid the upset and defeat the Golden Eagles in five sets (25-18, 21-25, 25-23, 19-25, 11-15).
 
Minnesota Crookston falls to 6-12 (0-10 NSIC).
 
Set One
UMD would take an early 4-1 lead, but the Golden Eagles would score six of the next seven points, using kills from Madison Carsten (Jr., OH, Wadena, Minn.), Carizma Muth (R-So., OH, Randolph, Minn.) and Emma Malek (Jr., MH, Plainfield, Ill.) to take a 7-5 lead.
 
Later in the set, the Golden Eagles would take a 15-10 lead, following back-to-back kills from Carsten, which would be a precursor to her outstanding night.
 
The Golden Eagles would extend their lead to seven at 18-11.
 
The Bulldogs would cut into the lead and make it 20-18, but the Golden Eagles would win the set by scoring the final five points of the set to win the set by seven.
 
Set Two
Looking to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match, the Golden Eagles would score the sets first three points with a pair of aces from Muth.
 
UMD would eventually take an 11-7 lead, but Lexi Scharold (So., MH, Alexandria, Kent.), who would have an outstanding third set, would collect a kill and help the Golden Eagles get back within a point.
 
Four straight points, capped off by another Carsten kill, would give the Golden Eagles a 14-13 lead, which would be quickly evaporated by a Bulldog 5-0 run for an 18-14 lead.
 
Later, Muth would finish another kill to cut the lead to 21-20, but UMD would finish off the Golden Eagles for the four-point win.
 
Set Three
In the swing set, the Golden Eagles and Bulldogs would go back-and-forth.
 
The early parts of the set would be tied at three, six and seven, but the Golden Eagles would score three points in a row for a 10-7 lead.
 
Scharold, who would have an outstanding set, would give the Golden Eagles a 15-12 lead, but UMD would score three in a row to tie the set.
 
UMD would eventually take an 18-17 lead, but the Golden Eagles would fight back and take a two point lead following a Muth kill.
 
With the match tied at 23, Muth would just tell her teammates to follow my lead and finish a kill and collect a service ace for the third set win by a pair.
 
Set Four
It would be a good start for UMD in the fourth set, but the Golden Eagles would take a 5-3 lead following a pair of kills from Carsten.
 
Eventually in the set, the Bulldogs would take a 13-9 that would turn into a 13-11 lead on a kill by Carsten.
 
UMD would pull away in the set and send the match to five sets.
 
Set Five
Set five is always a sprint and the Bulldogs would take an early lead that they would never give back.
 
The Bulldogs would lead 5-2, but another 3-0 run by the Golden Eagles would tie the set up at five.
 
From that point on, UMD would take a lead as big as four and Minnesota Crookston would get back within two on two separate occasions, but UMD would win the final set by four and win the match in five.
Individual Stats
Carsten was unbelievable on Thursday night, finishing with 26 kills and 16 digs, giving her 10 double-doubles on the season and three matches in a row. The 26 kills for Carsten is a new career high and is tied for fourth all-time in program history for kills in a match. Muth added 12 kills and 21 digs, giving her a new career-high in digs. Scharold added 12 kills on 31 total attacks. Malek finished with eight kills.
 
Kailee Waasdorp (Jr., DS, West Fargo, N.D.) continued her amazing run in the back row, finishing with 28 digs, giving her 67 digs in the last eight sets.
 
What's Next
Minnesota Crookston will look for their first NSIC win on Saturday afternoon as they head to Bemidji State for a 2 P.M. match.