UMC DROPS MATCH TO AUGUSTANA IN THREE SETS

The University of Minnesota-Crookston volleyball team ended a tough week on their schedule with a trip to Augustana on Saturday. The Golden Eagles put up a fight early but Augustana was too strong as they went on to win 3-0 (25-23, 25-14, 25-18) in a NSIC match played at the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls.

FIRST SET
UMC got off to a hot start with a 4-0 run and five of the first six points getting a kill from Mara Weisensel (So. New Ulm), Bailey Schaefer (Fresh. Brandon), and Layne Whaley (Fresh. Ashland, NE). Augustana worked it back to 6-5, but UMC went another 4-0 run on two Vikings’ attack errors and two kills from Maria Jose Bustos Garcia (Sr. Cartagena, Colombia). Augustana got right back into the set on with a 9-0 run to take a 15-11. Again, UMC had an answer with a 4-0 run to tie the set back up at 15-15 getting another kill from Bustos Garcia and an ace from Whaley. The teams kept it tight the rest of the way, but a 3-0 run from the Vikings was the difference as they went on to win the set 25-23.

SECOND SET
Augustana got a big push to start the set going on a 11-2 run. UMC tried to cut into the deficit with a kill from Charlee Krieg (So. Cavalier, ND) and two more kills from Schaefer, but Augustana opened up the lead to 20-7. UMC went on a 4-1 run and a 3-0 run highlighted by a kill and an ace from Natalie Koke (RS. Jr. Caledonia, WI) and three Augustana errors, but it wasn’t enough as the Vikings finished the set at 25-14.

THIRD SET
Again, Augustana started the set with a good run as they took a lead of 12-6. UMC got kills from Schaefer, Weisensel, and Krieg to split up the run. The Golden Eagles got within 13-8, yet Augustana stretched their lead back up to nine with a 4-0 run. UMC answered with a 7-2 run with kills from Schaefer and Weisensel and an ace from Lauren Wallace (RS. Sr. Bloomington) to make it 19-15. Yet, Augustana finished the set again and went on to win 25-18.

The UMC Golden Eagles drop to 1-9 this season and 0-5 in the NSIC. Their schedule doesn’t get much easier with #11 Winona State coming to Crookston next Friday.
Augustana improves their record to 8-5, and 3-2 in the NSIC.

For Minnesota Crookston
Kills- Bailey Schaefer- 6, Maria Bustos Garcia- 4, Mara Weisensel- 4
Assists- Natalie Koke- 11
Digs- Bailey Schaefer- 9, Bailey Mulcahy- 6, Layne Whaley- 5
Blocks- Maria Bustos Garcia- 6, Lauren Wallace- 3, Bailey Schaefer- 3
Aces – Lauren Wallace, Natalie Koke, Mara Weisensel- 1 each