Minnesota Crookston volleyball and head coach Kathleen Rustad announced the schedule for 2026.
Coach Rustad is going into her first season at the helm of the Golden Eagles, after a successful tenure at Hawley High School, where she won back-to-back state championships.
The Golden Eagles will play their traditional eight matches outside of the Northern Sun for non-conference play, although they will play the University of Jamestown and Bemidji State University in two non-conference tournaments.
Highlighted in their non-conference slate are two familiar opponents in South Dakota Mines and Lake Superior State to open the season. They will play four matches in two days to open the season on August 28-29 at the Hardrocker Tournament, hosted by South Dakota Mines in Rapid City, S.D.
Minnesota Crookston will hop on a plane and head to the Golden State for four more non-conference matches. Minnesota Crookston will see three new opponents: UC Merced, Saint Michael’s and Cal State San Marcos. They will then close out their trip to California with a familiar foe in Bemidji State. Minnesota Crookston has never played in the state of California in the Division II era.
Following their excursions to South Dakota and California, Minnesota Crookston will enter NSIC play starting in September. Minnesota Crookston will open up on the road at Northern State and Jamestown.
The new look Golden Eagles will make their home debut on September 18, when they welcome in the University of Mary as part of a three-match homestand that will also welcome in Minot State and MSU Moorhead.
The Golden Eagles will have 10 home matches this season; UMary, Minot State, MSU Moorhead, Bemidji State, Winona State, Concordia-St. Paul, Augustana, Wayne State, Jamestown and Northern State will all make the trek to Crookston in the fall.
The Golden Eagles will play three different opponents twice; UMary, Minot State and Northern State. The Golden Eagles will play Jamestown and Bemidji State three times this season.
SCHEDULE –
August 28 – at Hardrocker Tournament in Rapid City, SD
Noon – at South Dakota Mines
4:00 PM – vs Lake Superior State University
August 29 – at Hardrocker Tournament in Rapid City, SD
9:00 AM – vs University of Jamestown
2:00 PM – vs Chadron State College
September 3 – at Cougar Classic in San Marcos, CA
NOON – vs UC-Merced
September 4 – at Cougar Classic in San Marcos, CA
11:00 AM – vs Saint Michaels College
2:00 PM – at Cal State San Marcos
September 5 – – at Cougar Classic in San Marcos, CA
11:00 AM – vs Bemidji State University
NSIC PLAY BEGINS –
September 11 – at Northern State (6:00 PM)
September 12 – at University of Jamestown (2:00 PM)
September 18 – vs University of Mary (6:00 PM)
September 19 – vs Minot State (2:00 PM)
September 24 – vs Minnesota State Moorhead (6:00 PM)
September 28 – at University of Minnesota Duluth (2:00 PM)
September 29 – vs Bemidji State (6:00 PM)
October 2 – at Minnesota State Mankato (6:00 PM)
October 3 – at St. Cloud State (2:00 PM)
October 9 – vs Winona State (6:00 PM)
October 10 – vs Concordia-St. Paul (3:00 PM)
October 16 – at Southwest Minnesota State (6:00 PM)
October 17 – at University of Sioux Falls (2:00 PM)
October 23 – vs Augustana (6:00 PM)
October 24 – vs Wayne State (2:00 PM)
October 27 – at Bemidji State (6:00 PM)
October 30 – at Minot State (6:00 PM)
October 31 – at University of Mary (2:00 PM)
November 6 – vs University of Jamestown (5:00 PM)
November 7 – vs Northern State (2:00 PM)
