University of Minnesota Crookston Athletics

Rapid City, S.D. -- Coming off a thrilling five set win last night over Lake Superior State, Minnesota Crookston volleyball was back in action for two more matches to close out the Hardrocker Volleyball Tournament, starting with conference foe Jamestown.

 

The match was all Jimmies, who would win in three sets (17-25, 14-25, 13-25).

 

In match two against Chadron State, the Golden Eagles would get early leads, but fall in three sets (23-25, 18-25, 17-25).

 

Minnesota Crookston falls to 1-3 on the young season.

 

Set One

Jamestown would jump out to an early 5-1 lead, but Penelope Vertin (Sr., MH, Wayzata, Minn.) would continue her nice weekend with a kill to cut the lead to three.

 

Minnesota Crookston would later trail 12-6, but Abigail Ernster (So., OH, La Crescent, Minn.) would collect a kill to help the Golden Eagles cut into the deficit.

 

UJ would stretch their lead to 21-14, but a kill from Bella Peters (Fr., OH, Altona, Manitoba) and an error by the Jimmies would get the Golden Eagles back within five.

 

The Jimmies would pull away for the eight point, first set victory.

 

Set Two

The Golden Eagles would get off to a much better start in set two, as Lexi Scharold (Jr., MH, Alexandria, Kent.) would collect a kill and an error from the Jimmies would give the Golden Eagles an early two point advantage.

 

Madison Carsten (Sr., OH, Wadena, Minn.) would collect one of her team-high seven kills for a 4-3 lead, but four in a row from the Jimmies would make it 7-4.

 

Back-to-back attacking errors by the Jimmies would get the Golden Eagles within two at 10-8, but that's as close as they would get, as the Golden Eagles would fall in the middle set.

 

Set Three

Once again, Minnesota Crookston would start strong with the first two points of the set, but UJ would score the next two points.

 

UJ would eventually take a 14-7 lead, but Brooklyn Gysbers (Fr., OH, White Bear Lake, Minn.) would finish off a big swing to cut the lead to 14-8.

 

The Jimmies would close out the Golden Eagles for the win in the set and the match.

 

Individual Stats

Carsten led the way with seven kills, while Scharold added four and Peters finished with three. Vertin finished with a pair of blocks, while Jacelyn Crane (Fr., MH, Cumming, Iowa) added two, as well.

Chadron State

Set One

 

As was the theme on the day, the Golden Eagles would take a 2-0 lead, following back-to-back kills from Scharold.

 

Minnesota Crookston would five different leads of three points and would take a 13-9 lead following a Peters kill.

 

The Golden Eagles would see the Eagles tie the set at 15 and CSC would take their largest lead of the set at 21-17.

 

Crane and Carsten would team up for a massive block to cut the lead to just two at 21-19.

 

Down the stretch, the Golden Eagles would get within one at 24-23, but a service error would end the set and give CSC the lead in the match.

 

Set Two

 

Another set, another early lead for the maroon and gold, this time a 5-3 lead following a Carsten kill.

 

Minnesota Crookston would take a 7-4 lead following a Carsten service ace, but would see CSC knot the set up at eight.

 

The set would go back-and-forth until the Eagles would take a five point lead at 18-13, which would be halted by a Carsten kill.

 

The Golden Eagles would be within four a handful of times in the set, but Chadron State would win the middle set by seven.

 

Set Three

The third set would see the Eagles take an early lead and never give it back, as they would win the set and the match in straight sets.

 

Individual Stats

Carsten finished with eight kills on 33 total attacks, while Scharold added six kills on 22 total attacks. Peters had her best match as a collegiate player, finishing with six kills on 10 total attacks, good for a .500 attacking percentage.

 

Hannah Nesdahl (Fr., Lib./DS, Sioux Falls, S.D.) was outstanding in the back row, finishing with 17 digs in the match, a career best.

 

What's Next

Minnesota Crookston will now travel to the Golden State for four matches in California starting on Thursday, when the Golden Eagles take on UC Merced, a program in their second season in Division II.