The Crookston Pirate Volleyball team won the first set, but the Fosston Greyhounds won the next three for a 3-1 (23-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-17) victory in a match played at the Crookston High School Gymnasium.
In the first set, the teams were tied at 1, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11 before Fosston went on a run and built a 23-16 lead.  The momentum changed big-time when Crookston’s Sydney Anderson had a nice kill along the far sideline to spark a big Pirate run.  Crookston followed with a couple Casey Cwikla aces, a couple Fosston hitting errors and Anderson had another kill to bring the Pirates within one point (23-33).  Fosston hit into the net two straight points and Crookston was serving for set point and Cwikla served up an ace for her eighth straight service point to cap a 9-0 run for a 25-23 victory to take a 1-0 lead in the match.  “We started really well, the communication was there, and they were ready for their first home game,” said Pirate Coach Ashley Stopa. “Sydney was right there and had great communication and that was great to see, and Casey had some pretty tough serves, she was pushing it hard.  We were pretty excited with the start.”
The second set was another tight match with ties at 1, 2, 14, and 15.   Fosston started to take over the set when Jamie Carlin and Taylor Kroening had back-to-back kills to start a 10-2 run on their way to a 25-17 second set victory to tie the match at 1-1.  “We don’t like second sets,” said Coach Stopa. “I have noticed that already those second sets aren’t good for us.  We will have to make some changes and get that fixed, but Fosston played pretty well and they wanted it a little more.”
Fosston jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the third set, behind several Crookston hitting errors.  After a Crookston kill, Fosston answered with three straight kills for a 9-3 lead.  The Pirates slowly climbed back and after a Rachel Hefta kill, they trailed 17-14.  The momentum didn’t carry through the rest of the match because Fosston ended the set on an 8-2 run, including four Crookston errors, for a 25-16 victory for a 2-1 lead.  “We kept trying to dig and fight,” said Coach Stopa. “We are a small team and were a little tired and that showed.”
Crookston jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the fourth set before Fosston tied the set at 6-6.  Fosston slowly pulled away and built a 17-9 lead before Crookston tried to rally behind back-to-back Emma Boll and Hefta kills to get within a five-point deficit (20-15).  Fosston ended the match on a 5-2 run and won the set 25-17 to win the match 3-1.  “We went back and forth, and you could tell we were getting tired and they had some nice hitters,” said Coach Stopa. “I was proud of the girls, taking the first game and we kept fighting for every ball.  Our hitters swung a little harder tonight and that was good to see.”
Crookston drops to 1-1 on the year and will play one of the top teams in the state when they take on Ada-Borup/Norman County West on Thursday.  Fosston improves to 1-0 on the year.

Katelynn Genereux with a dig and Sydney Anderson on the serve receive

Emma Boll eyes down the ball on the serve receive

For Crookston 
Kills – Rachel Hefta – 8
Blocks – Rachel Hefta – 2, Hailey Seaver – 2
Assists – Kylie Solheim – 15
Digs – Rachel Hefta – 9, Dani Boyle – 8
Aces – Hailey Seaver – 4, Kasey Cwikla – 3

For Fosston
Kills – Taylor Kroening – 19, Jamie Carlin – 8
Blocks – Taylor Kroening – 1, Jamie Carlin – 1
Assists – Kora Norland – 40
Aces – Taylor Kroening – 7, Jaime Carlin – 4