Mankato, Minn. – It was three close sets, but Chadron State was able to make plays down the stretch in each of the three sets to sweep Minnesota Crookston (20-25, 21-25, 22-25) on Friday night at the Maverick Invite.
 
Minnesota Crookston falls to 5-1 on the season.
 
Set One
It would be another great start for the Golden Eagles, who would take a 5-2 lead following a Carizma Muth (R-So., OH, Randolph, Wis.) kill.
 
The other Eagles would take a lead at 9-8 and control the set from there.
 
Minnesota Crookston would get back within one at 21-20, following a block by Abigail Ernster (Fr., OH, La Crescent, Minn.) and Lexi Scharold (So., MH, Alexandria, Kent.).
 
Chadron State would score four in a row for the set one win.
 
Set Two
The second set would be an even better start for the maroon and gold.
 
The match would be tied at four, but kills from Ernster and Madison Carsten (Jr., OH, Wadena, Minn.) would start an avalanche for the Golden Eagles, who would take a 15-9 lead following a kill from Emma Malek (Jr., MH, Plainfield, Ill.).
 
The Eagles would climb back in the set and take a lead and they would eventually win the all important second set by two.
 
Set Three
Set three would be all Chadron State.
 
For the opening part of the set, that is.
 
Chadron State would take a 14-5 lead, but the Golden Eagles would give the Eagles a taste of their own medicine and cut the lead to 15-12, following a service ace from Adrienne Venditto (Fr., OH/DS, Bovey, Minn.) service ace.
 
Trailing 22-19, Malek would collect a kill and Venditto would collect back-to-back service aces to tie the set at 22.
 
Unfortunately, CSU would score the final three points of the set for the set win and the sweep.
 
Individual Stats
Carsten led the way with 13 kills on 46 total attacks, while also collecting 11 digs, her fifth double-double in six matches. Muth also finished with a double-double, 16 digs and 10 kills. Malek and Scharold finished off seven and six kills, respectively.
 
Kailee Waasdorp (Jr., DS, West Fargo, N.D.), who eclipsed the 1,000 dig mark earlier today, added 24 more digs in the match. Venditto, getting her first real time for the Golden Eagles, finished with three service aces.
 
What's Next
Minnesota Crookston has two more non-conference matches to finish off the Maverick Invite, starting at 8 A.M., tomorrow morning, as they meet with Lake Superior State.