The Crookston Pirate Volleyball team opened up the 2019 season with an exciting match in a 3-2 (18-25, 25-16, 23-25, 25-16, 15-13) victory over the Bagley Flyers in the season and home opener at the Crookston High School gymnasium. “The girls were pretty excited for this one and they were pretty excited for each other,” said Pirate Coach Ashley Stopa.
SET ONE
Bagley started the season with an 8-1 run to take a commanding lead. Crookston made five attack or serving errors to give Bagley five of their first eight points. “They were really nervous,” said Coach Stopa. “It was the first time a lot of the girls have played with each other and we were kind of hoping somebody else would get it and it showed.” Bagley continued to roll and built a 16-5 lead before Crookston started to pick up their play with Jasmin Hanson recording a kill and an ace, followed by kills from Libby Salentine and Mallorie Sundeen to bring the Pirates within a 16-9 deficit. The teams would play even the rest of the way and Bagley won the first set 25-18 to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
SET TWO
The teams battled back and forth early on with ties at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 before Jasmin Hanson had a kill and an ace to give Crookston a 7-5 lead. “That was important to have the good start,” said Coach Stopa. “It got us going and I was proud of how the girls responded.” Crookston led 13-10 when they went on a 5-0 run with Kasey Cwikla sparking the run with a kill, followed by three aces and another service point for an 18-10 lead forcing Bagley to call a time out. “Kasey’s serving and ability to hit anywhere is pretty amazing,” said Coach Stopa. “Kasey gave us a big spark and that was nice to see.” Bagley answered with two points before Crookston finished the set strong and won the set with back-to-back kills from Mallorie Sundeen for a 25-16 victory to tie the match at 1-1.
SET THREE
The third set was a tight battle with ties at 6, 7, 8, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, and 23. Bagley finished the set strong with back-to-back aces from Cori Bonik for a 25-23 victory to take a 2-1 lead. “I think our serve receive struggled and the communication on the serve receive,” said Coach Stopa. “There were a lot of close ones, on who was going to get it.”
SET FOUR
The set was tied at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11 and 12 before Crookston took a lead after a Bagley passing error and an Emma Boll ace for a 14-12 lead. The Pirates led 16-14 when they finished the set on a 9-2 run and the final three points coming on back-to-back aces from Jasmin Hanson aces and they finished the set with an Emma Boll kill to win 25-16 to force a fifth set. “I feel like we finally warmed up in set four,” said Coach Stopa. “We were performing at a high level and we played really well.”
SET FIVE
Bagley had a great start to the set going on a 6-1 run. “I was getting a little nervous because it felt like the first set,” said Coach Stopa. “I had to call a time out to slow things down.” Crookston answered with a six-point run of their own with Boll recording a kill and an ace, followed by a kill apiece from Dani Boyle, Allie Love and Cwikla to tie the set at 6-6. Crookston took a 7-6 lead after Bagley hit an attack into the net. Later in the set, Bagley took an 11-10 lead before Amelia Overgaard had back-to-back aces for a 12-11 lead. Bagley tied the set at 12 after a great hustle play and scramble, but Crookston’s Hanson had a kill, Bagley hit into the net and after a Bagley kill, Hanson had a kill at the net to give Crookston a 15-13 victory to win the match 3-2. “Jasmin played well for us tonight and when she gets up she is tough and her serves a TOUGH,” said Coach Stopa. “I am proud of how the girls endured to win the match in five sets in a hot gym. We played all 14 girls tonight and everybody made some plays for us tonight and that was great to see.”
Crookston improves to 1-0 on the year and will travel to Ada on Thursday, August 29 to play the defending Section 8A champion Ada-Borup Cougars. Bagley drops to 0-1 on the year.
J.V. – Bagley won 2-1 C Squad – Crookston won 2-0
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Bagley | 25 | 16 | 25 | 16 | 13 |
Crookston | 18 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 15 |
For Crookston –
Kills – Jasmin Hanson – 11, Kasey Cwikla – 8, Emma Boll – 5
Blocks – Jasmin Hanson – 5, Hannah Loraas – 5
Assists – Emily Funk – 13, Sophia Steiner – 9
Digs – Dani Boyle – 19, Emma Boll – 8
Aces – Jasmin Hanson – 5, Kasey Cwikla – 5, Amelia Overgaard – 3, Dani Boyle – 3
For Bagley –
Kills – Tessa Tramm – 7, Kylii Anderson – 7, Kennedy Grover – 6
Blocks – Kylii Anderson – 1, Tessa Tramm – 1
Assists – Emily Funk – 13, Sophia Steiner – 9
Digs – Cori Bonik – 9, Emma Mattfield – 9
Aces – Tessa Tramm – 5, Cori Bonik – 4
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