The University of Minnesota Crookston Volleyball team took their first set win in conference play but fell 3-1 against the Minnesota State Moorhead Dragons in an NSIC match played at Alex Nemzek Hall in Moorhead.
MSU Moorhead took control of the first set by winning four straight points after trailing 2-1 with a pair of kills each from Amanda Carlson (Fr., Phoenix, AZ) and Kylie Kanwischer (Soph., Fargo, ND) giving the Dragons a 5-2 lead. MSU Moorhead further expanded their lead to 8-4 with two more kills by Carlson and a UMC attacking error. Two-straight UMC attacking errors later in the set gave the host’s an 11-5 lead. The Golden Eagles capitalized on a service error and two more MSU Moorhead attacking errors to pull within 11-8. With Minnesota Crookston trailing 15-12, MSU Moorhead won three straight points before putting the Golden Eagles away with a 25-16 first set win.
Minnesota Crookston responded well in the second set. Trailing 4-3, the Golden Eagles gained service after a Dragons’ serving error. Ali Schueler’s (R-Jr., Howards Grove, WI) first serve was good for an ace followed by two-straight MSU Moorhead attacking errors to give UMC a 6-4 lead. The Dragons countered by taking four-straight points for an 8-6 lead. Later, with MSU Moorhead leading 10-8, Deaira Gresham (Soph., Maplewood) picked up back-to-back kills sparking a four-point run giving the Golden Eagles a 12-10 lead. MSU Moorhead rallied for a 16-14 second set lead before Minnesota Crookston utilized another two Dragons’ attacking error and a pair of aces served by Ali Schueler, followed by a Callie Schapekahm (Sr., Eagan) kill to take a 19-16 lead. MSU Moorhead remained within striking distance closing to within 21-20, but the Golden Eagles picked up crucial kills from Deaiara Gresham and Callie Schapekahm to close out the second set 25-20.
Minnesota Crookston took the opening point of the third set before MSU Moorhead scored six-straight points to take a 6-1 lead. Minnesota Crookston hung tough, however, with the Golden Eagles using an opposing attacking error and kills from Kaitlin Sikkink (R-Jr., St. Charles) and Sydney Kruisselbrink (Soph., Rochester) to pull within 18-17. A Deaira Gresham kill tied the set at 19-19. Later, another Dragons’ attacking error gave Minnesota Crookston a 22-21 lead, before consecutive Golden Eagles’ attacking errors gave MSU Moorhead a 23-22 lead. A Dragons’ service error leveled the match at 23-23, but UMC gave up a service error of their own setting up an MSU Moorhead kill by Kylie Kanwischer to secure the 25-23 third set win for the hosts.
Minnesota Crookston ran out of gas in the final set as the Dragons jumped out to a quick 12-7 lead. The Golden Eagles rallied to pull within 14-11, but the Dragons again separated with three-straight points to gain a 17-11 edge. UMC picked up another kill from Gresham and an ace served by Schapekahm later in the frame, but it wasn’t enough to prevent MSU Moorhead from taking the fourth set 25-19 and securing a 3-1 match victory.
The loss drops UMC’s record to 2-10 overall and 0-4 in conference play. The Golden Eagles return to the court on Saturday when they travel to Aberdeen, SD to take on Northern State. MSU Moorhead improves to 7-4 overall and 3-1 in the NSIC.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| UMC | 16 | 25 | 23 | 19 |
| MSU-Moorhead | 25 | 20 | 25 | 25 |
For UMC
Kills – Deaira Gresham – 8, Kaitlin Sikkink -7, Porsha Porath -7
Blocks –Callie Schapekahm – 4, Kaitlin Sikkink – 4, Melissa Rodriguez – 3
Assists – Sydney Kruisselbrink – 29, Porsha Porath – 1, Sabrina Leuer – 1
Digs –Ali Schueler – 24, Deaira Gresham – 16, Porsha Porath – 15
