University of Minnesota Crookston Athletics

Crookston, Minn. -- Minnesota Crookston volleyball dominated from start to finish on Saturday afternoon against Minot State, sweeping the Beavers in straight sets (12-25, 18-25, 21-25).

Minnesota Crookston improves to 3-9 (1-3 NSIC).

The win over the Beavers was the first NSIC win for first year head coach Kathleen Rustad.

Set One

The domination would start early. Minnesota Crookston would jump out to an early 4-0 lead, riding a pair of service aces from Carizma Muth (Sr., OH, Randolp, Wis.).

The Beavers would get within two at 6-4, but a Madison Carsten (Sr., OH, Wadena, Minn.) kill and service ace would get the Golden Eagles back up by five.

Leading 16-10, Carsten would go on a large service run, helped by a pair of kills from Jacelyn Crane (Fr., MH, Cumming, Iowa) and another from Bella Peters (Fr., OH, Altona, Manitoba) would put the Golden Eagles up 13.

The Golden Eagles would win the set by 13.

Set Two

Set two would see Minot State take their first and only lead of the match, leading 4-2 early on.

The Golden Eagles would answer with a 5-0 run of their own, taking a 7-4 lead in the middle set.

For the second straight set, the Golden Eagles would take a 14-7 lead on another Crane kill. Brook Orazem (So., S, Onamia, Minn.) would get two service aces in the run to give the Golden Eagles an eight point lead.

Later in the set, Minot State would trim the lead to six at 24-18, but Carsten would end the set with a kill and put the Golden Eagles up two sets to none.

Set Three

Another set, another early four point lead for the Golden Eagles, as Carsten would put the Golden Eagles up four with a service ace.

Hannah Nesdahl (Fr., S, Sioux Falls, S.D.) would collect another service ace to put the Golden Eagles up by eight, which capped off a 4-0 run for the Golden Eagles.

Brooklyn Gysbers (Fr., OH, White Bear Lake, Minn.) would give the Golden Eagles a nine point lead following back-to-back kills at 23-14.

Facing four match points, the Beavers would fight it off every single time, but Ellery Ehresmann (So., S, Albany, Minn.) would put the kibosh on that and end the set with a kill.

Individual Stats

The Golden Eagles were balanced all afternoon long, as Carsten and Lexi Scharold (Jr., MH, Alexandria, Kent.) led the way with nine kills each. Muth added seven kills and seven digs, while Emma Malek (Sr., MH, Plainfield, Ill.) finished with six kills. Peters and Crane each added five kills, a career-high for Crane.

Carsten also added 20 digs in the match, a season-high and three short of tying her career-high.

Ehresmann finished with 18 assists, while Orazem added 15 assists.

The Golden Eagles hit .286 in the match and held the Beavers to finish 20 kills in the match, which is the lowest against the maroon and gold since September of 2025, when Southern New Hampshire also finished with 20 kills.

What's Next

Minnesota Crookston is back in action on Thursday to cap off their homestand, as they host MSU Moorhead at 6 PM.