MANKATO, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team split Saturday's matches at the Maverick Invite at the Taylor Center in Mankato, Minn. The Golden Eagles picked up a dominant 3-0 win over Lake Superior State University, but fell 3-0 to Quincy University in the finale of the tournament.

Minnesota Crookston continues their historic start, improving to 6-2 as they enter NSIC play next week. The Golden Eagles match their best record since 2014. Minnesota Crookston already is just a win shy of their 2024 mark. They have surpassed their wins marks from 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018. The 2014 squad went on to an 11-17 mark, while the 2013 squad went to the NSIC Tournament with a 15-14 record. The Golden Eagles have won their last two matches over Lake Superior State, and lead the series 6-5. Quincy leads the series 2-1. 

Match One
The Golden Eagles opened Saturday morning with a 3-0 (25-18, 26-24, 25-17) win over Lake Superior State University at the Taylor Center in Mankato, Minn. Minnesota Crookston set the tone early in set one, and did not look back in a dominant 3-0 victory over the Lakers.

Key Stats
Minnesota Crookston hit .342 in the match, with 45 kills, and just seven errors. The Golden Eagles had a .405 hitting percentage in the opening set, with just one error. They held the Lakers to a .236 hitting percentage. Minnesota Crookston notched six service aces, and had 53 digs for 17.7 digs per set. Madison Carsten (Jr., OH, Wadena, Minn.) paced the Golden Eagles with a double-double of 12 kills, and 14 digs. She hit .310. Minnesota Crookston found success setting Emma Malek (Jr., MH, Plainfield, Ill.) in the middle, with 11 kills and a .450 hitting percentage. Carizma Muth (R-So., OH/RS, Randolph, Wis.) picked up 10 kills.

At setter, Dana Melby (R-Sr., S, Gonvick, Minn.) finished with 18 assists, as did Ellery Ehresmann (Fr., S, Albany, Minn.). Defensively, Kailee Waasdorp (Jr., DS/Lib., West Fargo, N.D.) picked up 17 digs. On the block, Carsten and Lexi Scharold (So., MH, Alexandria, Minn.) each had one block assist.

Lake Superior State looked to Elisa Rizzoli with 17 kills. Vanessa Swerdon had 23 assists, while Shea Berisoff had 10 assists. Defensively, the Lakers were guided by Mia Garcia had 14 digs, and Rizzoli notched 12.

Set One
The Golden Eagles raced out to a 7-3 lead in set one as Malek knocked down a kill from Ehresmann. The Lakers were able to close the deficit to 9-8 with a Rizzoli kill. The score remained tight, 17-15, following a bad set from Waasdorp. However, Minnesota Crookston dominated the remaining points paced by two kills apiece from Carsten, and Scharold to take the frame 25-18.

Set Two
The Lakers set the tone early in set two, leading 4-1 following a Morgan Deming kill. The Golden Eagles responded and tied the set 6-6 with an Abigail Ernster (Fr., OH, La Crescent, Minn.) kill. Lake Superior State took the lead 9-7 with a kill from Shea Berisoff. They continued to lead 11-8 after a Madisyn Dykema service ace. Minnesota Crookston rallied for four-straight points culminating in a Muth kill for a 12-11 advantage. Back-to-back points from the Lakers made it 13-12. The Golden Eagles outscored Lake Superior State 8-2 to make it 20-15 on a Muth service ace. The Lakers countered and closed the set within 20-19 on an Olivia Boutorwick kill. However, Minnesota Crookston was able to hold off Lake Superior State 26-24 with a Muth kill to go ahead 2-0 in the match.

Set Three
The Golden Eagles held an early 4-2 advantage following an Ernster spike. The Lakers came back to take a 5-4 lead with a Valeriya Varnakova service ace. Minnesota Crookston took the lead 12-9 on a Carsten hit. The Lakers remained within striking distance, 16-15, following another Varnakova service ace. The Golden Eagles closed out the set and the match on a 10-1 run, as a Carsten spike won it for Minnesota Crookston 25-17, and 3-0. 

Match Two
The Golden Eagles were close early on, and led the second set, but ultimately fell 3-0 (28-26, 25-17, 25-13) to Quincy. Quincy improved to 4-2 with the victory over Minnesota Crookston.

Key Stats
The Golden Eagles struggled with hitting errors in moments of Saturday's second match. Minnesota Crookston finished hitting .068 with 31 kills, and 21 errors. They had their best set in the first frame, notching 15 kills, and just four errors.

Carsten led the way with nine kills, and hit .128. Malek, and Muth each chipped in six kills apiece. Ehresmann paced the U of M Crookston with 13 assists.

The Golden Eagles stayed in the match because of defense. Waasdorp paced the squad with 18 digs. Carsten finished with 12, while Muth added 11. Carsten, Malek, and Scharold each notched two block assists. 

Quincy was guided by Janelle Pye-Blacknard with 14 kills, and a .314 hitting percentage. Susanna Beretti had 12 kills, while Elena Kasavica notched 35 assists. The Hawks had five players with double-digit digs. 

Set One
The two teams played a tight set in the first frame. Minnesota Crookston held an early 5-1 lead as Muth put one down to make it 5-1. Quincy and the Golden Eagles were tied 7-7 after a Muth service error. The Hawks held a 15-11 advantage after a bad set from Ehrsemann. The Golden Eagles came back and knotted the set 18-18 following a kill from Malek. They continued their momentum and took the 20-18 lead with a Scharold spike. Quincy knotted the set 22-22 on a Selin Tergut kill. The Golden Eagles fought back and took a 24-22 lead on a Waasdorp ace. Quincy finished the set on a 6-2 run, as a Pye-Blacknard kill gave the Hawks a 28-26 set one victory, and a 1-0 lead.

Set Two
Minnesota Crookston held the momentum early in the second set, leading 7-2 after a Tergut attack error. The Golden Eagles held a 10-7 advantage following a Malek kill. The two sides were knotted 12-12 after an Erin Matzke kill. Quincy outscored the Golden Eagles 10-2 to lead 22-14 after a Pye-Blacknard spike. The Hawks took the set 25-17 on a Matzke kill, taking a 2-0 advantage.

Set Three
The Hawks raced out to a 6-1 advantage with a Matzke kill. Minnesota Crookston countered with a 3-0 run to pull within 6-4. The Golden Eagles pulled within 8-7 with a Muth service ace. Quincy pushed back out to a 14-7 lead with a Pye-Blacknard spike. Quincy took the set 25-13, and the match 3-0. 

Up Next
Minnesota Crookston returns home for their first matches at Lysaker Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles host Wayne State College Friday, September 19, and Augustana University Saturday, September 20.