The Crookston Pirate Volleyball team traveled to Red Lake Falls on Tuesday night to play the Eagles. Red Lake Falls showed great depth and balance winning the match in three sets (25-14, 25-12, 25-9).
First Set
The Eagles did a nice job early capitalizing on a few Pirates mistakes and then rattled off five straight points that featured two kills from Lexi Swendra to take a 9-2 lead and force a Pirates timeout. The Eagles would score three more before the Pirates finally got a point to make it 12-3, and after a little back and forth, Crookston would close the gap down to 18-9 on a couple of kills from Libby Salentine. The Eagles would finish the second set strong, however, and win it 25-14. The Eagles were led in the first set by Lexi Swendra and Emma Knott with four kills each, while Crookston was led by Libby Salentine with two kills.
Second Set
Crookston got the opening point in the second set before the Eagles would score ten of the next thirteen to take a 10-4 lead. The Pirates started playing better volleyball from there and got multiple kills from Salentine along with a couple from Nesseth, but the Eagles continued to score also and held an 18-10 lead in the second set with Crookston needing to make a move. The Eagles finished the second set strong scoring seven of the next nine to win the set 25-12, thanks to great play from Gabby Casavan and Shandi Nelson. Salentine also continued her strong play in the second set for Crookston leading the team in kills once again.
Third Set
The Eagles once again came out of the gates quick scoring four straight points before a Grace Fischer kill made it 4-1. Red Lake Falls would score a few more on some Pirates errors, forcing a Crookston timeout with the Eagles in front 9-2. Red Lake Falls continued to get stronger throughout the match and went on multiple runs in the third set, one that included three straight kills from Gabby Casavan. Crookston would get a few points here and there, but the Eagles were too much, and they would win the third set 25-9, and the match 3-0.
Red Lake Falls improves to 2-1 on the season and will play at Warren-Alvarado-Oslo on Thursday. Crookston falls to 0-4 now and will host Sacred Heart on Thursday with the match starting at 7:15 p.m.
FOR CROOKSTON COACH KATIE ENGELSTAD’S COMMENTS, CLICK BELOW
Audio Player
FOR RED LAKE FALLS COACH NIKKI GULLINGSRUD’S COMMENTS, CLICK BELOW
Audio Player
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| CROOKSTON | 14 | 12 | 9 |
| Red Lake Falls | 25 | 25 | 25 |
For CROOKSTON
Kills – Libby Salentine- (5), Anna Funk- (3), Joey Nesseth- (2)
Blocks – NONE
Digs – Dani Kresl- (17), Hannah Brouse- (5), Libby Salentine- (4)
Assists – Libby Salentine- (5), Anna Funk- (3)
Aces – NONE
For Red Lake Falls
Kills – Emma Knott- (11), Shandi Nelson, Gabby Casavan- (9 each), Lexi Swendra- (7)
Blocks – Shandi Nelson- (2)
Digs – Gabby Casavan- (17) Brooklyn Cardinal, Brea Derosier- (11 each)
Assists – Brooklyn Cardinal- (30)
Aces – Gabby Casavan, Brooklyn Cardinal, Kiara Sauve- (2 each)
