University of Minnesota Crookston Athletics

San Marcos, Calif. -- Minnesota Crookston, who was looking to salvage a win at the Cougar Classic, would take on Saint Michael's College of Vermont on Saturday afternoon.

 

Minnesota Crookston would indeed salvage a win, dominating the Purple Knights from start to finish in a sweep (25-12, 25-18, 25-13).

 

Minnesota Crookston improves to 2-6 on the season.

Set One

The Golden Eagles would start fast and keep their foot on the gas.

 

Emma Malek (Sr., MH, Plainfield, Ill.) and Madison Carsten (Sr., OH, Wadena, Minn.) would get the Golden Eagles going early with two straight kills.

 

Lexi Scharold (Jr., MH, Alexandria, Kent.) would give the Golden Eagles their largest lead of the set up to that point at 10-5 with a kill.

 

A Carsten service ace would give the Golden Eagles a 20-8 lead and Minnesota Crookston would later end the set with a huge block from Scharold and Carsten.

 

The Golden Eagles were balanced in the kill department, led by Carsten with four first set kills, while Brooklyn Gysbers (Fr., OH, White Bear Lake, Minn.) added three. Scharold, Bella Peters (Fr., OH, Altona, Manitoba) and Malek each added two in the first set.

 

Set Two

Set two would be a little slower start for the Golden Eagles, who would trail 5-2 early, but would go on a 6-2 run to take an 8-7 lead following a Carsten kill.

 

Scharold would give the Golden Eagles a 17-13 lead following another kill and Carsten would force a Purple Knights timeout with a block.

 

The Golden Eagles would finish out the set and win by six following a Gysbers kill.

 

Set Three

Looking for the first sweep of the Rustad tenure, Minnesota Crookston would triple up the Purple Knights early, following an Adrienne Venditto (So., DS, Bovey, Minn.) service ace and forcing a Saint Michael's timeout.

 

The Purple Knights would get back in the set, which would see a number of ties, including at 12, but an Abigail Ernster (So., OH, La Crescent, Minn.,) kill and a huge block from Scharold would get the Golden Eagles back up by a pair.

 

Later in the set, another Venditto service run, including another service ace, would force a Purple Knight timeout and the Golden Eagles just six points away from the sweep.

 

Venditto would serve 11 straight points and the Golden Eagles would dominate down the stretch for the 12 point win in the third set and the sweep.

 

Individual Stats

Carsten was outstanding, finishing with 14 kills and seven digs. Scharold added nine kills and four blocks, while Gysbers added eight kills on 11 total attacks. 

 

Ehresmann finished with seven digs and a season-high 36 assists. Venditto finished with 11 digs and a career-high six service aces in the match.

 

Minnesota Crookston hit .376 in the match, their highest total since they hit .477 against Felician a year ago.

All-Tournament Team
Seniors Madison Carsten and Emma Malek were named to the Cougar Classic All-Tournament Team.

What's Next

Minnesota Crookston will open up conference play next Friday night from Wachs Arena against Northern State for a 6 P.M. first serve.