Women's Volleyball | 9/17/2026 9:43:00 AM

#TIDBITS

Golden Eagle volleyball will finally be at home this weekend for a pair of NSIC challenges on Friday and Saturday against The University of Mary and Minot State. Minnesota Crookston will be at home following 10 matches on the road, nearly a month since the season started in South Dakota in late September. The Golden Eagles are looking for their first conference win since October 30, 2024, when they beat Bemidji State in five sets, at home.

·   SHINY NEW THINGS TO SHOWCASE. Besides what is hopefully some good volleyball the Golden Eagles will showcase this weekend, there are some exciting new things that will be on display for all fans to see this weekend. First, the Golden Eagles will be taking to the floor on a brand new floor, which was put in this summer. The floor sees a brand new signature on each end of the court for the namesake of the floor, Gary Senske, one of the winningest coaches in Minnesota Crookston history. Secondly and maybe the most exciting, is a brand new video board that will be on display on the East wall when fans walk into Lysaker Gymnasium. The video board will be a tool used for all volleyball and basketball games and will feature different graphics, promotional games and much more.

·   OH CANADA! Golden Eagle fans will finally get to see their freshmen up close and personal this weekend for the home opening weekend. There are a number of freshmen that are already making impacts, including Bella Peters. Peters, the lone Canadian on the roster, undoubtedly had her best weekend of her young career. Peters finished the weekend with 10 kills on the weekend, including six kills on 15 total attacks against Jamestown. She also finished with three blocks against Northern State, which was also a career-high.

·   DOUBLE-DOUBLE QUEEN. Madison Carsten has always proved to be a do-it-all player for the Golden Eagles since 2023. She is near the top in program history in double-doubles, sitting at 28 and counting. The senior loves playing the Marauders, as well. In four matches against UMary, the Wadena native has 58 kills and 68 digs and three double-doubles in four all-time matches. For anyone that is good at math, Carsten is averaging 14.5 kills and 17 digs against UMary. Carsten comes into the weekend just 129 kills shy of the 1,000 mark in her career.

·  EXPECT A NAIL-BITER. No matter where the Marauders and Golden Eagles play, whether it's in Bismarck, Crookston or the Sandlot, one can guarantee that it will go past the mandatory three sets. The programs have met 28 times, dating back to 2006 and in the first 18 matches between the two, there were eight sweeps, with the Golden Eagles winning five of those sweeps. Since the last sweep by the Golden Eagles in 2018, there has not been a sweep in 10 matches between the Golden Eagles and Marauders. There has been three, five-set matches since 2018, with the Marauders winning two of those. If you're coming on Friday, expect this match to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.

• WEAR BLACK. In their home opener, the Golden Eagles will wear black and they are encouraging all of their faithful to wear black as well, in the first of 11 matches in the friendly confines of Lysaker Gymnasium.

·   TRIO OF FIRST YEAR HEAD COACHES. In somewhat of an oddity, this weekend will feature a trio of head coaches in their first year at the job. The Golden Eagles and Kathleen Rustad are ten matches into her tenure and two NSIC matches at the collegiate level. UMary features Rob Frost, who has made multiple National Tournaments at the NCAA and NAIA levels and is in his first year at the helm of UMary. Minot State features Josh Wastvedt, who like Rustad, made the jump to the NCAA after spending seven years at Burnsville High School in the Twin Cities.

• CANCEL OUT. The Golden Eagles have seemingly been much better at the net this season, thanks to some underclassmen. Bella Peters, Jacelyn Crane and Lexi Scharold, along with senior Madison Carsten have made things tougher this season for their opponents at the net. Through 10 matches, Minnesota Crookston has 50 blocks on the season, while their opponents have 52. The battle at the net could be the deciding factor this weekend against the Marauders and Beavers.

·   SENSE A TREND. If the Golden Eagles serve well, chances are they will make it tough on their opponents in serve receive. The Golden Eagles have two wins on the year and have eight service aces against Lake Superior State and 12 against Saint Michael's, both wins. Quality serving is paramount in the NSIC and the Golden Eagles will hope for that this weekend.

·   MIDCO SPORTS PLUS. Golden Eagle fans will have a new way to catch all Golden Eagle events this season. The NSIC Network is now on Midco Sports Plus and is a Pay-Per-View option, for all fans. Fans can get annual access starting at less than $7 per month, including full NSIC coverage plus the Summit League season. A monthly subscription is also available for $15. Hunter Plante and Shawn Smith will have all the play-by-play action all season long for Golden Eagle sports.

Series Quick Look vs the opponents
UMary and Minnesota Crookston is tied at 14 apiece, all-time
Minnesota Crookston leads the all-time series, 15-7

How to Follow

UMary @ Minnesota Crookston
Friday, Sept. 18
6 PM
Crookston, Minn. / Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium
Live Stats -- https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wvball/media
Watch Live -- https://midcosportsplus.com/?school=university-of-minnesota-crookston

Minot State @ Minnesota Crookston
Saturday, Sept. 19
2 PM
Crookston, Minn. / Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium
Live Stats -- https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wvball/media
Watch Live -- https://midcosportsplus.com/?school=university-of-minnesota-crookston

#OPPONENTOUTLOOK

UMARY. The Marauders are looking to earn their first NSIC win of the season and break their 7 match losing streak. UMary sits at 2-8 with wins over Montana State University Billings and Black Hills State University.

BURKE LEADS THE ATTACK. The offensive leader for the Marauders belongs to Judith Burke, a junior from Eagle, Idaho. Burke ranks eighteenth in the conference in kills with 102 and averages 3.13 points/set. Burke has had four 10+ kill matches including two double-doubles. Burke had a season-high of 18 kills earlier this year against Black Hills State.

DEPTH ON DISPLAY. The Marauders have had fifteen players play in at least one set this season, while having nine players with a start. This includes one player playing all 36 sets, and three other players playing in 35 sets.

NECK AND NECK. History shows a very even split between the University of Mary Marauders and the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles. The all-time series sits at 14-14. Something has to give this Friday night.

MINOT STATE. The Beavers are sitting at thirteenth in the NSIC standings and showing some promise. They have had some close matches and hold a record of 3-7 with wins over Newman University, Cameron University, and Northeastern State University.

VIBETO DIGS DEEP. The reigning NSIC Defensive Player of the Week belongs to Maya Vibeto. The junior from Minot, ND is currently second in the conference in digs and digs/set. Vibeto has played in all 40 sets this season.  

NEW COACH TAKES CHARGE. The Beavers bring in new head coach Josh Wastvedt to lead the team this year. Wastvedt spent the past 7 years coaching at Burnsville High School where he was named the Section 6AAAA Coach of the Year for three seasons. Under Wastvedt, the Beavers have already matched the number of wins (3) going into Week 4 as they did in total last season.

DRENNEN SETS THE TONE. The offense for the Beavers is led by setter Logan Drennen, a junior from Commerce City, Colorado. Drennen leads the team in assists with 309, and finished with 48 assists in a win over Newman University.