Mankato, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston volleyball just continues to find ways to win. The Golden Eagles finished with an attacking percentage of .136, but knocked off Upper Iowa in four sets (25-21, 25-23, 15-25, 25-17), to improve to 5-0 and continue their best start since 2014.
 
In the win, junior Kailee Waasdorp (Jr., DS, West Fargo, N.D.) finished with 31 digs, giving her over 1,000 in her career. Waasdorp becomes the fifth Golden Eagle ever with 1,000 or more digs.
 
Set One
Upper Iowa would flip the script on the Golden Eagles, who through their first four matches, would jump out to fast starts.
 
UIU would move out to a 7-3 lead, but the maroon and gold would flip the script with a 6-0 scoring run, highlighted by a pair of aces from Waasdorp and a kill from Abigail Ernster (Fr., OH, La Crescent, Minn.).
 
Lexi Scharold (So., MH, Alexandria, Kent.) and Madison Carsten (Jr., OH, Wadena, Minn.) would combine for a big block, helping the Golden Eagles to a 14-10 lead.
 
Emma Malek (Jr., MH/RS, Plainfield, Ill.) would finish off a kill, giving the Golden Eagles their largest lead of the set at 22-15.
 
The Peacocks would try and make their way back into the set, but the Golden Eagles would win the first set by four.
 
Set Two
The second set would be tighter than the first.
 
Minnesota Crookston would trail early, but Ernster would finish off an ace to tie the set up at seven.
 
Minnesota Crookston would take a lead midway through the second set and lead 13-11, following a block by Malek and Carizma Muth (R-So., OH, Randolph, Wis.).
 
UIU would regain a one point lead at 18-17, following a 3-0 run, but the Golden Eagles would counter with a 4-0 run, marked by kills from Scharold and Carsten.
 
Later, kills by Muth and Ernster would give the Golden Eagles set point and they would finish off the Peacocks for a two point win.
 
Set Three
With their backs against the wall, UIU would control the third set.
 
The set would be tied at eight, but the Peacocks would control the rest of the third stanza and win by 10.
 
Set Four
The contrast between the third and fourth set would be night and day. Minnesota Crookston would move out to a fast 5-2 lead, following back-to-back service aces from Carsten and a kill from Scharold.
 
In the middle of the set, the Golden Eagles would extend their 12-9 lead to 16-9 with two straight kills from Malek, which would force a UIU timeout.
 
The Golden Eagles would eventually double up on the Peacocks and take a 20-10 lead.
 
Muth would finish off the set and the match with a kill to give the Golden Eagles a 5-0 record.
 
Individual Stats
Muth led the way with 15 kills on 44 total attacks, while also collecting 11 digs in the match, giving the redshirt sophomore her second double-double of the season. Carsten continues her scorching start to the season, finishing with 14 kills on 62 total attacks, while also collecting 21 digs. Her 62 total attacks are a career-high in any match. Carsten also has four double-doubles on the season.
 
Ernster added eight kills and 10 digs, while Malek collected seven kills and two blocks.
 
Waasdorp finished with 31 digs, her third match of the season with more than 30 digs on the season. Dana Melby (R-Sr., S, Gonvick, Minn.) added a season-high 33 assists in the match.
 
What's Next
Minnesota Crookston will look to tie a school record with their sixth straight win to open the season today, as they meet Chadron State for a 4 P.M., first serve from the Taylor Center in Mankato.