The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Volleyball team fell in straight sets (25-11, 25-17, 25-16) in their NSIC opener against Concordia-St. Paul played in the newly renovated Lysaker Gymnasium.
In the first set, Concordia-St. Paul jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. The Golden Bears won three-straight points to open the match with three kills by Jasmin Mulvihill (Fr., Lakeville). Minnesota Crookston won its first point on a CSP attacking error, before Concordia-St. Paul took two more points expanding their lead to 5-1. An attacking error gave the Golden Eagles their second point before Porsha Porath (Soph., Windom) got Minnesota Crookston’s first kill bringing the hosts within 5-3. Leading 10-8, Concordia-St. Paul won three straight points, expanding their lead to 13-8. With an 18-11 lead, the Golden Bears took the final seven points of the set to close out a 25-11 lead in set one.
In the second set, Sydney Kruisselbrink (Jr., Rochester) served an ace giving the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead. Concordia-St. Paul took the next two points gaining a 2-1 lead before UMC had a kill from Sabrina Leuer (R-Sr., Hamel) and an attack error by the visitors gave UMC a 3-2 lead. Leading 4-3, Concordia-St. Paul won four-straight points to take a 7-4 lead. Back-to-back kills from Natalie Koke (R-Fr., Caledonia, WI) and Lauren Wallace (R-Soph., Bloomington) trimmed Minnesota Crookston’s deficit down to 8-7. A kill from Katie Lienemann (Jr., Rosemount) tied the set at 10-10. Concordia-St. Paul won the next three points gaining a 13-10 lead. Porsha Porath spiked a kill bringing Minnesota Crookston within 15-13 before Concordia-St. Paul won the next four points taking a 19-13 lead. The Golden Bears cruised the rest of the set winning it 25-17 to take a two-set lead.
An attacking error opened the third set giving Minnesota Crookston a 1-0 lead. Concordia-St. Paul responded with two-straight points taking a 2-1 lead. The two-sides traded points with a kill by Shelby Dunbar (Fr., Fertile) tying the third set at 13-13. Concordia-St. Paul took the next four points gaining a 17-13 lead. After the Golden Eagles took one point back off a Concordia-St. Paul error, the Golden Bears took four-straight points gaining a 21-13 lead. The Golden Bears closed out the match-winning four of the final five points to close out the sweep taking the third set 25-16.
UMC falls to 2-7 this season an 0-1 in NSIC play. Minnesota Crookston returns to the court on Saturday when the Golden Eagles host Minnesota State-Mankato at 3:00 P.M. CSP improves to 7-2 overall and 1-0 in conference action.
| Box Score | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Concordia-St. Paul | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| UMC | 11 | 17 | 16 |
For UMC
Kills – Porsha Porath – 8, Hannah Stark – 3, Kaitlin Sikkink – 2
Blocks – Shelby Dunbar – 1
Assists – Sydney Kruisselbrink – 12
Digs – Katie Lienemann – 7, Sydney Kruisselbrink – 4, Porsha Porath – 4
Aces – Sydney Kruisselbrink – 1, Hannah Stark – 1
