The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Golden Eagles Volleyball team earned their first conference win of the season beating the University of Mary 3-1 (13-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-19) in an NSIC match played at Lysaker Gymnasium.
In the first set, UMary jumped out to a 4-1 lead before an attack error brought Minnesota Crookston within 4-2. Melissa Rodriguez (Sr., Sarchi Sur, Costa Rica) served back-to-back aces tying the set at 4-4. The Marauders responded with a three-point run, and another three-point run boosted the University of Mary’s lead to 10-5. The Marauders continued pulling away, taking a 16-6 advantage, including consecutive aces served by Natalia Cruz (Jr., San Juan, Puerto Rico). UMC took the next four points with kills from Kaitlin Sikkink (R-Sr., St. Charles) and Sydney Kruisselbrink (Jr., Rochester) trimming the Golden Eagles’ deficit down to 16-10. Leading 18-11, the Marauders won six straight points taking a 24-11 lead before closing out the opening set 25-13. “We struggled a little bit,” said UMC Coach Sarah Rauen. “They won the serve-pass battle.”
Minnesota Crookston jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second set with Melissa Rodriguez serving another ace. The lead grew to 5-1 after a kill from Porsha Porath (Soph., Windom) and a UMary attacking error. “We talked about getting out fast,” said Coach Rauen. “We made some adjustments and that showed.” The Golden Eagles won four the next five points, increasing their lead to 9-3 before the Marauders took three points to pull within 9-6. The University of Mary pulled within 12-10 before the Golden Eagles won five-straight points giving Minnesota Crookston a 17-10 lead. The Marauders continued to battle back, pulling within 21-17, but an attack error by the University of Mary gave the Golden Eagles a 22-17 lead. The Marauders won consecutive points pulling within 23-19, but another UMary attacking error gave Minnesota Crookston a 23-19 lead. The University of Mary couldn’t get out of their own way with an attack error and bad set, allowing the Golden Eagles to even the match, winning set two 25-21. “It was nice to bounce back and play better,” said Coach Rauen. “We were in system a lot more and we were able to get it to our middles a lot more. It was big to even it up after two sets.”
Minnesota Crookston carried its momentum of the second set win to start the third set. Kaitlin Sikkink spiked two kills for the first two points of the set before three straight attacking errors by the Marauders gave the Golden Eagles a 5-1 lead. “Kaitlin played great tonight,” said Coach Rauen. “It looked like she had springs and she was attacking well tonight for us.” A Melissa Rodriguez kill followed by a UMary attacking error gave UMC a 7-2 advantage. Lauren Wallace (R-Soph., Bloomington) earned a kill following another Porath termination making it 9-4. After trailing 11-7, the University of Mary took three of the next four points pulling within 12-11. Kills by Porath, Sabrina Leuer (R-Sr., Hamel), and Lauren Wallace regained a three-point lead for Minnesota Crookston at 17-14. The Golden Eagles continued maintaining a small edge as the set continued. Trailing 19-15, the Marauders pulled within 19-17 before another Leuer kill gave UMC a 20-17 lead. Sydney Kruisselbrink scored a second straight Golden Eagles’ point before a Marauders’ attacking error gave UMC a 22-17 lead. The Golden Eagles closed out the third set with back-to-back kills from Sikkink, and Porath, before a bad set from the Marauders, gave UMC a 2-1 lead in the match and third set victory 25-21. “We have a core of DS’s (Defensive Specialists),” said Coach Rauen. “They played well and got us going with some big defensive plays tonight. It was nice to take a lead and it helped to get a good start in the set.”
The Golden Eagles started the fourth set quickly, taking a 3-0 lead before a Porsha Porath kill made it 4-1. The Marauders won six of the next seven points taking a 7-5 lead before Lauren Wallace made two-straight kills tying the set at 7-7. After the Golden Eagles jumped out to an 11-8 lead, the Marauders took three straight points tying the set at 11-11. A Kaitlin Sikkink kill put Minnesota Crookston back on track with UMC taking the next three points and a 15-12 lead. A Melissa Rodriguez kill pushed the Golden Eagles ahead 16-13 before a Lauren Wallace kill made it 17-14. The Marauders trimmed a five-point deficit down to 19-16 before three straight UMary attacking errors gave the Golden Eagles a 22-16 lead. A Kaitlin Sikking kill moved UMC within one point of the set point at 23-16. The Marauders took one point back after a bad set by the Golden Eagles, making the score 23-17. A Sydney Kruisselbrink kill established match point before a Sabrina Leuer kill closed out the Golden Eagles 3-1 victory as UMC won the fourth set 25-19. “It is great to see all their hard work pay off with a win. This was the most balanced we have been this year with offense, defense and everything,” said Coach Rauen. “This was a great all-around win with some great serving, solid defense and some good play at the net. It was fun and hopefully, we can keep it rolling tomorrow.”
Minnesota Crookston improves to 3-12 on the year with a 1-6 record in the NSIC. The Golden Eagles continue their homestand on Saturday when UMC hosts Minot State at 3:00 P.M. The University of Mary falls to 1-15 overall and 0-7 in the NSIC.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| U of Mary | 25 | 21 | 21 | 19 |
| UMC | 13 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
For UMC
Kills – Kaitlin Sikkink – 12, Porsha Porath – 9, Lauren Wallace – 7
Blocks – Sabrina Leuer – 3, Kaitlin Sikkink – 2, Meli Rodriguez – 2
Assists – Sydney Kruisselbrink – 32
Digs – Alyssa Thomas – 22, Katie Lienemann – 20
Aces – Meli Rodriguez – 4
