The University of Minnesota Crookston Volleyball team struggled in the first set and battled better in the second and third set but the #14 ranked Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs were too strong as they cruised to a 3-0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-17) in a match played at the PE Gym in Marshall.
SET ONE –
Southwest Minnesota State jumped out to a 4-1 lead to start the match, but UMC battled back with a kill from Natalie Koke and Mara Weisensel along with two Mustang attack errors and the set was tied at 5-5. Southwest dominated the rest of the match and ended on a 20-6 run and scoring the final eight points of the set for a 25-11 victory.
SET TWO-
Southwest jumped out to a 4-1 lead for the second straight set and led 9-6 when they went on a 6-0 run to build a 15-6 lead. UMC trailed 16-7 when they went on a 5-0 run to get within a 16-12 deficit behind kills from Lauren Wallace and Charlee Krieg. Wallace added a service ace and Southwest had two hitting errors. UMC kept battling back and got within a 17-14 deficit, but Southwest finished strong by ending the set on a 8-4 run to win 25-18.
SET THREE –
The set was tied at 1, 2, 3, and 4 before UMC went on a 4-0 run behind kills from Wallace and Bailey Schaefer for an 8-4 lead. UMC had a 10-6 lead when Southwest took over the match with an 8-0 run for a 14-10 lead. UMC scored a point only to have Southwest went on a 10-3 run for a 24-14. UMC didn’t go down without a fight as Schaefer had a kill, Southwest had a bad set, and Koke had an ace to get within a 24-17 deficit. Southwest ended the match with a kill and a 25-17 victory.
UMC drops to 1-23 on the year and Southwest Minnesota State improves to 20-7 on the year. UMC will wrap up the year at the University of Sioux Falls on Saturday.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Minnesota Crookston | 11 | 18 | 17 |
| SW Minnesota State | 25 | 25 | 25 |
For Minnesota Crookston
Kills– Charlee Krieg-8, Bailey Schaefer-8, Natalie Koke-4, Lauren Wallace-3
Blocks – Lauren Wallace-1, Mara Weisensel-1
Assists – Natalie Koke-18
Digs – Layne Whaley-11, Natalie Koke-7, Bailey Schaefer-7, Lauren Wallace-5
Aces – Natalie Koke-2, Bailey Schaefer-2
