UMC VOLLEYBALL WAS CLOSE, BUT COMES UP SHORT IN LOSS TO #6 CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL

The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Volleyball team had a great effort, but were swept by the #6 ranked Concordia University of St. Paul Golden Bears 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-23) at the Ganglehoff Center in St. Paul.

SET ONE –
The set was tied at 1 and 2 before CSP went on an 8-3 run to take a 10-5 lead. UMC settled down and answered with three straight points with three straight kills from Deaira Gresham (Jr. Maplewood) to get within a 10-8 deficit. CSP responded with an 8-3 run to take an 18-11 lead and it looked like they might cruise to a first set win. The scrappy Golden Eagles bounced back with four straight points behind three CSP attack errors and a Gresham kill to get within an 18-15 deficit. CSP scored two points before they had four straight attack errors and UMC trailed by one point (20-19). CSP didn’t have an attack error the rest of the set and won 25-22 to take a 1-0 lead.

SET TWO –
UMC took a 4-3 lead behind three CSP errors and a Porsha Porath (Soph. Windom) kill. The set was tied at 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 before CSP finished the set on a 5-1 run to win the set 25-21 to take a 2-0 lead.

SET THREE –
CSP built an 8-3 lead before UMC scored three points with a Kaitlin Sikkink (Sr. St. Charles) kill, a CSP attack error and a Katie Lienemann (Jr. Rosemount) ace to get within an 8-6 deficit. The teams exchanged points and CSP took a 15-11 lead. UMC tied the set with four straight points, started by kills from Sabrina Leuer (Sr. Hamel) and Gresham. UMC kept battling and built an 18-17 lead after another Gresham kill. UMC continued to roll and had a 22-19 lead before CSP finished the set on a 6-1 run to win the set 25-23 to win the match 3-0.

UMC drops to 4-23 on the year and 2-17 in the NSIC. The Golden Eagles will wrap up the season with a match at Minnesota State Mankato on Saturday. Concordia-St. Paul improves to 21-7 overall and 15-4 in the NSIC.

For  UMC
Kills – Deaira Gresham – 11, Porsha Porath – 6, Sabrina Leuer – 5
Blocks – Melissa Rodriguez – 2
Assists –Sydney Kruisselbrink – 14, Natalie Koke – 11
Digs – Katie Lienemann – 10, Sydney Kruisselbrink – 8