UMC Volleyball Releases 2014 Schedule

CROOKSTON, Minn.- The University of Minnesota Crookston volleyball team officially released their 2014 schedule Monday morning. The Golden Eagles will play in two non-conference tournaments before commencing their schedule in NCAA Division II’s toughest league, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). UMC’s 2014 conference slate includes seven games against opponents ranked in the top 25 during the 2013 season. In addition, the Golden Eagles will play a non-conference game against one ranked foe from the 2013 season.

Minnesota Crookston will open up their 2014 slate at the Maryville University Invitational in St. Louis, Mo. Sept. 5-6. The Golden Eagles will be pitted against four NCAA Division II schools. UMC will start the year with a match against Kentucky Wesleyan College at 11 a.m. Sept. 5. Kentucky Wesleyan went 26-7 last season. UMC will face St. Joseph’s College from Rensellaer, Ind., who went 11-21 last year, at 3 p.m. Sept. 5. St. Joseph’s is under new leadership for the 2014 season. The Golden Eagles will continue play at the Maryville Invitational with a match against West Liberty University out of West Liberty, W.V. The Hilltoppers went 12-20 on the 2013 season. UMC will face West Liberty at 9 a.m. Sept. 6. They will round out play at the Maryville Invitational against host Maryville University at 5 p.m. Sept. 6. Maryville went 10-23 during the 2013 season.

The Golden Eagles will trek to their second non-conference tournament Sept. 12-13 at the Northern State University Invitational in Aberdeen, S.D. UMC will be pitted in non-conference games against three conference opponents and one non-conference foe. The Golden Eagles will open up tournament play Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. versus Minot State University, who went 12-18 in 2013. UMC defeated the Beavers in their one match last year. UMC will take on Southwest Baptist University from Bolivar, Mo. at 4:45 p.m. Sept. 12. Southwest Baptist went 17-14 last year. On Sept. 13, UMC will take on St. Cloud State University at 2:30 p.m. The Huskies went 14-14 on the 2013 season and defeated UMC in their one match. The Golden Eagles will round out the Northern State Invitational as they face host Northern State, who was ranked in the top 25 last season, at 7 p.m. Sept. 13.

Minnesota Crookston will open up their NSIC slate Sept. 16. The Golden Eagles will play 20 games against conference foes for the 2014 season with one game against 10 of the schools and two games against Bemidji State University, University of Sioux Falls, Southwest Minnesota State University, Wayne State College and Augustana College.

The Golden Eagles will open up conference play on the road Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. against travel partner Bemidji State, who finished 2013 with a 6-22 mark. UMC will then host Augustana and Wayne State in their home opening weekend. The Golden Eagles will face the Vikings at 7 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium Sept. 19 and the Wildcats at 4 p.m. Sept. 20. Augustana went 22-8 last season, while Wayne State ended the season in the top 25 with a 22-10 overall mark. The Golden Eagles will remain at home for a mid-week match Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. against perennial power University of Minnesota Duluth, who was 33-3 last season and played in the NCAA Central Regional.

The Golden Eagles will then hit the road for a difficult four-match trip beginning with a match against traditional conference power Southwest Minnesota State Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. in Marshall, Minn. SMSU was also ranked at the end of the season and played in the NCAA Central Regional after posting a 24-8 mark. Minnesota Crookston will continue their road trip as they face University of Sioux Falls at 4 p.m. Sept. 27 in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Golden Eagles defeated the Cougars last season. The Cougars were 19-12 in 2013.

UMC will remain on the road the following weekend as they trek to Mankato, Minn., to face Minnesota State University, Mankato. Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. in Mankato, Minn. The Mavericks went 13-15 during the 2013 campagin. UMC defeated Minnesota State for Homecoming 3-0. The Golden Eagles will continue their road excursion against seven-time defending NCAA Division II National Champion Concordia University, St. Paul Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. in St. Paul, Minn.

The Golden Eagles will return home Oct. 10 and Oct. 11 for a weekend as they host Winona State University and Upper Iowa University. UMC will take on Winona State at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 and Upper Iowa at 4 p.m. Oct. 11. Winona State went 11-18 last season. The Warriors will be under new leadership in 2014 as former University of Mississippi head coach Joe Getzin takes over the program. The Golden Eagles split with the warriors. Upper Iowa was 8-22 during the 2013 campaign. UMC also split with the Peacocks.

The Golden Eagles will hit the road for a mid-week match against St. Cloud State University at 7 p.m. Oct. 14 in St. Cloud. Minn. The Huskies went 14-14 on the season and defeated UMC in a hard-fought five-set match 3-2 last season.

UMC will return home for two more matches for Homecoming. The Golden Eagles will host Northern State at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 and Minnesota State University Moorhead Oct. 18 at 4 p.m. MSU Moorhead went 15-13 for the 2013 season. UMC defeated in an intense five-set match last season.

The Golden Eagles will hit the road for a two-match excursion as they head to University of Mary Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. and Minot State University Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. U-Mary went 4-23 last season but are under new leadership in 2014 with Melissa Chaplin taking over the program. Minot State went 12-18 in 2013. The Golden Eagles defeated both Minot State and U-Mary last season.

UMC will return home for three matches following their trip to the state of North Dakota. The Golden Eagles will host Bemidji State Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. in a mid-week match for their Dig Pink event. UMC will then conclude their home slate against Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State. The Golden Eagles will take on the Cougars at 5 p.m. Oct. 31 for Parent’s night and then will battle the Mustangs at 4 p.m. Nov. 1 for Senior Night.

UMC will conclude the 2014 season as they trek to Wayne State and Augustana the final weekend of the regular season. The Golden Eagles will take on the Wildcats at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 in Wayne, Neb. UMC will wrap up the year in Sioux Falls, S.D. as they face-off with Augustana at 4 p.m. Nov. 8.

Minnesota Crookston is coming off their best season in program history with a 15-14 mark. The Golden Eagles also earned a berth in the NSIC/US Bank Tournament, which only takes the top eight teams in the nation’s best Division II volleyball conference. The Golden Eagles return All-NSIC First Team selection Brittany Looker (Sr., OH, Rochester, Minn./Health Science), who averaged 3.84 kills and 2.81 digs per set as a junior. Also returning is senior Morgan VanGerpen (MH, Overland Park, Kan./Early Childhood Education), who had an improved season in 2013 averaging 1.80 kills per set and 0.90 blocks. The Golden Eagles also welcome back starting setter Sierra Trost (So., Ham Lake, Minn..Health Science), who averaged 9.84 assists per set as a freshman. UMC also returns several key contributors from last season and also welcomes in four newcomers and two players who redshirted the 2013 season.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

The University of Minnesota Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).