UMC VOLLEYBALL SALVAGES SINGLE SET IN LOSS TO MSU-MOORHEAD

The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Golden Eagles Volleyball team won just their second set in conference play this season before dropping their sixth straight match 3-1 against Minnesota State-Moorhead in an NSIC match played at Nemzek Fieldhouse on the Moorhead campus.

In the first set after a Lauren Wallace (R-Soph., Bloomington) killed tied UMC with their hosts at 4-4, MSU-Moorhead took five straight points staking a 9-4 lead. After UMC pulled withing 11-8 later in the set, the Dragons won six straight points pulling ahead before closing out a 25-12 first set win.

Minnesota Crookston regained composure in the second set with back-to-back kills by Lauren Wallace and Deaira Gresham (Jr., Maplewood) giving the Golden Eagles a 2-1 lead. A Deaira Gresham ace gave UMC a 6-5 lead as both teams continued to trade points and side-outs. MSU-Moorhead pulled ahead 20-15 before a kill by Melissa Rodriguez (Sr., Sarchi Sur, Costa Rica) followed by consecutive kills by Porsha Porath (Soph., Windom) brought the Golden Eagles within 20-18. A Dragons’ attack error tied the set at 22-22. Minnesota Crookston fought off two straight MSU-Moorhead set points tying the set at 24-24, but the Dragons won the final two points of the set taking it 26-24 while gaining a 2-0 lead in the match.

Consecutive kills by Rodriguez and Porath gave UMC a 4-1 lead in the third set. Leading 10-9, the Golden Eagles took six straight points earning a 16-9 lead in the third set. MSU-Moorhead rallied late in the set to pull within 23-22, but a Dragons’ serving error followed by an ace served by Sydney Kruisselbrink (Jr., Rochester) extended the match to a fourth set after Minnesota Crookston won the third 25-22.

In the fourth set, MSU-Moorhead ensured there wouldn’t be a fifth. Trailing 17-14, the Dragons won four straight points gaining an 18-17 lead. UMC pulled within 21-20, but MSU-Moorhead finished the match-winning four of the final five points to close out the 3-1 match win taking the final set 25-21.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 2-11 overall and 0-6 in conference play. The Golden Eagles return home to Lysaker Gymnasium on Friday night when UMC hosts the University of Mary at 6:00 P.M.

For UMC
Kills – Porsha Porath – 16, Sydney Kruisselbrink – 10, Deaira Gresham – 8
Blocks – Melissa Rodriguez – 4, Sydney Kruisselbrink – 3
Assists – Sydney Kruisselbrink – 30
Digs – Porsha Porath – 21, Katie Lienemann – 15, Lauren Wallace – 14
Aces – Dearia Gresham – 2