Crookston, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston fell in straight sets to close out the 2025 season by Minnesota State (9-25, 20-25, 17-25).
The Golden Eagles end the season 6-22.
First Set
It would be all Mavericks in the first set.
They would jump out to an 8-2 lead, but
Emma Malek (Jr., MH, Plainfield, Ill.) would collect a kill to make it 8-3.
The Mavs would pull away and win the first set by 16.
Second Set
The Golden Eagles would show great fight in the second set.
Dana Melby (R-Sr., S, Gonvick, Minn.), playing in her final match as a Golden Eagle, would collect a service ace to knot the set up at three.
Later in the set, the Mavericks would take a 14-8 lead, but
Abigail Ernster (Fr., OH, La Crescent, Minn.) would collect a kill to help the Golden Eagles get back within four.
MSU would take a 22-17 lead, but kills by Malek and
Madison Carsten (Jr., OH, Wadena, Minn.) would get the Golden Eagles back within a pair, but the Mavericks would score the final three points of the set to win the middle set.
Third Set
MSU would get off to another fast start, taking a 5-1 lead, but Carsten would collect a kill to cut the deficit to just a field goal at 5-2.
An attacking error by the Mavericks would make it 12-8, but they would then score six in a row to make it 18-8 before another Carsten kill halted the run.
Malek would collect a service ace to make it 19-13, but that would be as close as the maroon and gold would get, falling by eight in the final set.
Individual Stats
Carsten added another double-double, finishing with 10 kills and 11 digs.
Carizma Muth (R-So., OH, Randolph, Wis.) finished with six kills and 10 digs.
Lauren Schnettler (R-Fr., DS, Browerville, Minn.) led the Golden Eagles with 12 digs.
Thank You Dana
Today was the final match for
Dana Melby. Melby, a three year player for the Golden Eagles, finishes her career top-10 all-time for the Golden Eagles in assists throughout a career and had a 55 assist match in 2023, which ranks her tied for fourth in a match for a Golden Eagle setter. We wish Dana the best in her future endeavors. Once a Golden Eagle, always a Golden Eagle.
