Rapid City, S.D. -- In their first match under the direction of first year head coach Kathleen Rustad, Minnesota Crookston volleyball fell in three sets to South Dakota Mines (20-25, 12-25, 9-25) in their first of two matches on Friday afternoon in the Black Hills.
In match two against Lake Superior State, it was a thriller. Minnesota Crookston would win the first two sets, lose the next two, then trail 14-10 in the fifth and final set, but score six straight points to earn a thrilling and hard-fought win (25-21, 25-19, 17-25, 25-20, 16-14).
The win for the Golden Eagles is the first of the season and first of first year head coach Kathleen Rustad's tenure.
Minnesota Crookston moves to 1-1 on the season.
South Dakota Mines
Set One
The first four points of the set would go the way of SD Mines, but back-to-back errors by the Hardrockers would make it 4-2.
Madison Carsten (Sr., OH, Wadena, Minn.) would collect her first kill of her senior season and a big block by Penelope Vertin (Sr., MH, Wayzata, Minn.) and Jacelyn Crane (Cumming, Iowa) would get the Golden Eagles within a point.
The Rockers would stretch their lead to 10-5, but three straight service aces by Carsten would knot the set at 10.
Later in the set, the Hardrockers would take another five point lead at 17-12, but two kills from Bella Peters (Fr., MH, Altona, Manitoba) and Lexi Scharold (Jr., MH, Alexandria, Kent.) would make it 17-15.
That's the closest the maroon and gold would get in the five point win.
Set Two
SD Mines would score the first two points, but the Golden Eagles would tie the set up at three with the help of a Vertin kill.
The Hardrockers would run away with the set for the 25-12 win and take full control of the match with a 2-0 lead.
Set Three
The Golden Eagles would open up the scoring for a 1-0 lead with a dual block from Scharold and Brooklyn Gysbers (Fr., OH, White Bear Lake, Minn.)
SD Mines would score four in a row for a 4-1 lead.
The Hardrockers would take a 12-5 lead, but a Gysbers kill and an Adrienne Venditto (So., DS/Lib., Bovey, Minn.) service ace would cut the lead to five.
From there, it was all Mines, who would win the final set 25-9.
Individual Stats
Carsten led the way with five kills on 27 total attacks, while Vertin finished with a career-high four kills. Freshmen Gysbers and Peters each finished with three kills.
Lake Superior State
Set One
It would be nip-and-tuck early between the Golden Eagles and Lakers, but the Golden Eagles would take a 13-10 lead following a kill from Scharold, who was dominant all match long.
The Golden Eagles would stretch their lead to 20-14, using four straight attacking errors by LSSU.
The Golden Eagles would finish out the set for a four point victory.
Set Two
Looking to take full control of the match, Minnesota Crookston would double up the Lakers early and take a 4-2 lead, using a service ace from Abigail Ernster (So., OH, La Crescent, Minn.) and another kill from Scharold.
Minnesota Crookston would maintain a cushion of at least two midway through the set, until they would stretch their lead to five after a dual block from Vertin and Scharold.
Leading 23-18, Scharold would collect another kill to give the Golden Eagles their largest lead of the set at 24-18.
Minnesota Crookston would win the set following a service error by LSSU.
Set Three
Looking to sweep the Lakers for the second consecutive season, they would jump out to a 6-3 lead following a big swing by Vertin.
Knotted up at nine, Scharold would annihilate another ball for a 10-9 lead, but that would be the last lead for the maroon and gold, as LSSU would take complete control and win the set by eight.
Set Four
Set four would be yet another quick start for the young Golden Eagles and they would take a 5-2 lead following the first career service ace from Brook Orazem (So., S, Onamia, Minn.).
LSSU would eventually take a 12-10 lead, but two straight kills from Carsten and Vertin would tie the set up at 12.
Later on in the set, LSSU would take a 17-13 lead, but Carsten would go on a run at the service line and Ernster would give the Golden Eagles a one point lead at 18-17 following a kill.
Jacelyn Crane (Fr., MH, Cumming, Iowa) would tie the set up at 19 with a kill.
The Lakers would score four straight points to head into the fifth set.
Set Five
Set five would be all Lakers early.
They would take an 11-5 lead, but the Golden Eagles would start to chip away. The Golden Eagles would score four straight points for an 11-9 deficit, following a kill by Carsten.
As the great Stuart Scott once said, "Not so fast, my friend."
Facing four match points, the Golden Eagles would fight it off every single time and eventually tie the set following a Scharold kill.
Ernster would force a Laker timeout and Ellery Ehresmann (So., S, Albany, Minn.) would end the thriller with a service ace.
Individual Stats
Scharold was nothing short of dominant on Friday night. The junior finished with a career-high 22 kills on 42 total attacks, which was also a career best. Her .405 attacking percentage is also a career-high for the Kentucky native. Carsten finished with 12 kills, after not collecting a kill in the first set. Ernster added 11 kills, the second time in her young career with 11 kills and tying a career-high.
The Golden Eagle setters were fantastic, each finishing with 22 assists in the match. The 22 assists for Orazen were a career-high.
Defensively, Minnesota Crookston was outstanding. Venditto dug out a career-high 26 digs in the match, while Carsten finished with 13 digs, giving her the first double-double of the season for the senior. Ernster also gathered a double-double with 12 digs.
School Record
The 22 kills from Scharold are the most for a Golden Eagle middle hitter in the current scoring era.
What's Next
Minnesota Crookston will close out their time in South Dakota tomorrow for two matches, starting with Jamestown tomorrow morning at 10 A.M.
