The University of Minnesota Crookston Volleyball team remains in search of its first conference win of the season following a 3-0 sweep against Bemidji State Beavers in an NSIC match played at BSU Gymnasium in Bemidji.
Both teams battled through the first few points with the first set tied at 3-3 before Bemidji State took the next five points and an 8-3 lead including two-straight kills from Maddie Filipiak (Sr., International Falls). Minnesota Crookston took back two points after a serving and attacking error to pull within 8-5 before the Beavers picked up a pair of kills from Greta Paszek (Fr., Hartland, WI) to take a 10-5 lead. The Golden Eagles rallied later in the set, taking three-straight points with kills from Kaitlin Sikkink (R-Jr., St. Charles) and Deaira Gresham (Soph., Maplewood) closing UMC’s deficit to 15-13 while forcing a Bemidji State timeout. Minnesota Crookston continued to battle within 20-19 and 21-20 but would never lead after the first three points of the set with back-to-back aces served by Julie Touchett (Jr., Verona, WI) closing out the first set for a 25-20 Bemidji State win.
Set two was a battle until Minnesota Crookston failed to break a serve-receive cycle late in the set. The Golden Eagles jumped out to an 18-15 lead after a service error, two-straight attacking errors and a bad set forcing the Beavers to take a timeout. Following the timeout, Bemidji State wouldn’t drop another point the rest of the set taking ten-straight points in route to a 25-18 set two win.
Initially, Minnesota Crookston responded well in the third set following their difficult close to set two, but once again Bemidji State refused to fold. Minnesota Crookston jumped out to an 8-4 lead after kills from Porsha Porath (Fr., Windom) and Kaitlin Sikkink. Later in the set, a Sabrina Leuer (R-Jr., Hamel) kill and Bemidji State attacking error gave the Golden Eagles a 13-8 lead. Consecutive Beavers’ attacking error further grew UMC’s lead to 17-10. Another Porath kill pushed the lead to 18-11 before Bemidji State won three-straight points cutting the deficit to 19-16. A kill from Becka Cronin (Soph., Evansville, WI) made it four-straight points for BSU while pulling the Beavers within 2. A service ace from Cronin later in the set tied the match at 20-20. The two sides traded points until the set was tied at 23-23. Minnesota Crookston committed to attacking errors for the final points of the match as Bemidji State took the third set 25-23 to complete the sweep.
The loss drops UMC’s record to 2-9 overall and 0-3 in conference play. The Golden Eagles return to the court on Friday when they travel to MSU Moorhead for a match at 6 p.m. Bemidji State improves to 4-7 overall and 1-2 in the NSIC.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| UMC | 20 | 18 | 23 |
| Bemidji State | 25 | 25 | 25 |
For UMC
Kills – Kaitlin Sikkink – 9, Deaira Gresham – 5
Blocks – Kaitlin Sikkink – 1, Callie Schapekahm – 1, Melissa Rodriguez – 1
Assists – Sydney Kruisselbrink – 17
Digs – Ali Schueler- 11, Lauren Ulibarri – 8, Sydney Kruisselbrink- 8
Aces – Katie Lienemann- 1
