CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team showed improvement from Friday, but ultimately fell 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-15) to Augustana University Saturday, September 20 at Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles held close in each of the three sets early, including leading the third set 6-0 from the outset. However, Augustana was able to close each set to pick up Saturday's win.

Minnesota Crookston dropped to 6-4 (0-2 NSIC) with Saturday's loss. The Golden Eagles continue their historic start though, as they have their best record since opening the 2014 season with a 7-3 record. Augustana improved to 7-3 (1-1 NSIC) with Saturday's win. 

Team Stats
Minnesota Crookston had a much improved hitting performance from Friday, with a .167 hitting percentage, 36 kills, and 17 errors. The Golden Eagles hit .241 in the third set, with 11 kills. Augustana hit .370 for the match, with 49 kills, and just seven errors. The Vikings notched eight blocks, compared to five for Minnesota Crookston. 

Top Performers
The offense thrived Saturday when setting Madison Carsten (Jr., OH, Wadena, Minn.). She had 16 kills and hit .306 for the match. Carizma Muth (R-So., OH/RS, Randolph, Wis.) tallied eight kills, and hit .103. Emma Malek (Jr., MH, Plainfield, Ill.) added five kills.

Dana Melby (Sr., S, Gonvick, Minn.) paced the Golden Eagles with 17 assists. Ellery Ehresmann (Fr., S, Albany, Minn.) finished with 12. Defensively, Kailee Waasdorp (Jr., DS/Lib., West Fargo, N.D.) paced the squad with 11 digs. Lexi Scharold (So., MH, Alexandria, Ky.) had two solo blocks, and a block assist, while Malek notched two solo blocks.

Augustana was guided by Maya Wente, who notched 13 kills and hit .632, with just one error. Wente had two solo blocks. Lucy Belisle added 10 kills. Kiyiah Franke guided the offense with 35 assists. Defensively, the Vikings were paced by Clara Hoegh with 10 digs. 

Set-By-Set
Minnesota Crookston held an early 7-5 lead in the first set following a Belisle attack error. They continued to hold a 10-8 advantage with a great play from middle hitter Scharold. Augustana responded by rattling off a 5-1 rally to take a 13-11 advantage on a Wente kill. Minnesota Crookston knotted the frame 15-15 on a Carsten kill. The Vikings countered with a 6-0 run, as a block from Sydney Times made it 21-15. The Vikings held on for a 25-18 win culminated by a Wente spike.

Minnesota Crookston held a 5-3 advantage in the second stanza after a Scharold kill. The Vikings took a 6-5 advantage off a block from Belisle, and Tims. The Golden Eagles came back with a 3-1 lead to move into an 8-7 advantage off an attack error for Augie. The U of M Crookston held within 13-11 after a Reagan Jansen service error. The Vikings parried with a 5-0 run to lead 18-11. Minnesota Crookston cut the deficit to 23-19 with a Muth kill. However, the Vikings held on for a 25-19 set victory off a Tims kill.

The Golden Eagles took all the momentum early in the third set, racing out to a 6-0 advantage after a block by Malek. Augie answered with a 4-0 run to pull within 6-4 on a Wente kill. Minnesota Crookston moved their lead to 9-5 with an Ehresmann service ace. The Vikings countered with a 4-0 run to tie the set 9-9 with a Belisle kill. Augie was able to take the momentum with a 14-6 run the rest of the way to win the set 25-13 and the match 3-0 on a Mya Vandrovec kill.

Up Next
Minnesota Crookston hits the road to face Minnesota State University Moorhead Tuesday, September 23 at 6 p.m., in Moorhead.