The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Volleyball team struggled in a 3-0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-12) loss to the University of Sioux Falls Cougars in the Northern Sun Conference season opener at Lysaker Gym on the UMC campus.
SET ONE-
The first set was tight early on with ties at 2, 3, 4, and 5 before Sioux Falls went on a 7-2 run to take a 12-7 lead. UMC bounced back with four straight points with a pair of kills from Lauren Wallace to get within a 12-11 deficit. Sioux Falls answered with a 7-1 run to take a 19-12 lead and the Cougars held on the rest of the way for a 25-19 victory to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
SET TWO-
Sioux Falls started the second set on an 8-1 run with the only UMC point coming on a Cougar service error. With Sioux Falls leading 9-2, UMC answered with four points after a couple of Sioux Falls attack errors, a Bailey Schaefer service ace, and a Natalie Koke kill to get within a 9-9-6 deficit. Sioux Falls had a 16-11 lead when Sioux Falls went on a five-point run with three kills and two service aces for a 21-11 lead. Sioux Falls continued to dominate the set and finished with a 25-13 victory for a 2-0 lead in the match.
SET THREE-
Sioux Falls started the third set on a 3-0 run with a couple of kills and a service ace. UMC was trailing 5-2 when they bounced back to tie the set after two Sioux Falls attack errors and a Bailey Schaefer kill. Sioux Falls answered with a 10-2 run to take a commanding 15-7 lead. The teams exchanged points for a while until Sioux Falls flexed their muscles again and finished the match on a 7-1 run to win the set 25-12 to win the match 3-0.
UMC drops to 1-5 on the year (0-1 in the NSIC) and will host #16 ranked Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday. Sioux Falls improves to 6-3 on the year and 1-0 in the NSIC.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| University of Sioux Falls | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Minnesota Crookston | 19 | 13 | 12 |
For Minnesota Crookston
Kills – Mara Weisensel – 5, Bailey Schaefer – 5
Assists – Natalie Koke – 15
Digs – Bailey Mulcahy – 6, Natalie Koke – 4, Charlee Krieg – 4
Blocks – Mara Weisensel – 2, Natalie Koke -1, Maria Jose Bustos Garcia – 1
Aces – Layne Whaley – 2, Bailey Schaefer – 1
