UMC Golden Eagle News Archive:
June 6, 2006 - July 1, 2009

(Crookston, Minn.)- The Golden Eagle Women’s Volleyball team opened it season at the Ferris State Tournament in Big Rapids, Mich. UMC went 2-2 on the weekend, defeating West Virginia State University and Lake Superior State.

UMC vs. West Virginia State University: UMC began the tournament with a shaky first game against WVSU, falling 30-22. The Golden Eagles rallied after the loss to win the next three games to take the match 3-1. Katie Bonine (Fr., OH, Cottage Grove, MN) led UMC’s attack with 16 kills and a .367 attack percentage. Heather Foreman (Jr., OH, Brandon, MB) and Theresa Crance (Sr., MH, Timber Lake, SD) each tallied 13 kills. Foreman had three aces and Crance’s .370 attack percentage led the Golden Eagles in the match. Setting for UMC was Cassie Yates (Jr., S, Buffalo, MN) who finished with 49 assists in the match. Defensively, Jaclyn Slepicka (So., Lib, Crystal Lake, IL) led the team with 20 digs and Allison Zajicek (Jr., MH, Beatrice, NE) led the blockers with five assisted blocks.

UMC vs. Grand Valley State: Following the victory at 1:00 p.m. UMC went on the face #11 Grand Valley State at 6:00 p.m. The Golden Eagles would battle for three games but eventually fall 3-0. Senior Theresa Crance led all attackers with 11 kills followed closely by teammate Heather Foreman and Leslie Curtis (GVSU) with 10 kills each. Yates continued to set the pace, assisting on 32 of the 36 kills for the Golden Eagles.

UMC vs. Lake Superior State: UMC returned to the court early on August 25^th to take on Lake Superior State at 9:30 a.m. The morning game took its toll on both teams as the team attack percentage barely broke the .100 mark (.145 UMC / .100 LSS). UMC would stay focused and eventually prevail in the match 3-1. Katie Bonine, Sara Hess (LSS) and Jamie Groos (LSS) led all attackers with 13 kills each. Yates led the setters with 43 assists and Heather Foreman added to the offense from the service line with a career high seven aces. Allison Zajicek had another outstanding game at the net knocking down eight assisted blocks and one solo blocks.

UMC vs. Alaska-Anchorage: UMC would finish the weekend with an epic five-game battle with the Seawolves. Unfortunately, it was AAU that would sneak out with the victory 3-2. If there was to be a game that would set the pace, it was the first game of the match as the teams fought back and forth for a 35-33 AAU win. Alaska-Anchorage would go on to win the second game before UMC took games three and four to tie the match at two games apiece. The fifth and final game would come down to effective attacks as AAU finished with a team attack percentage of .273 to UMC’s .050 and AAU would go on to take the game and the match with a 15-12 victory. UMC’s Heather Foreman led all attackers with 20 kills. Rachel Kidwell (AAU) followed closely behind with 19 kills. Cassie Yates came three assists away from her career high, finishing with 56 total assists for the match. She added four service aces and three assisted blocks in the final match of the weekend. Jaclyn Slepicka had 20 digs for the Golden Eagles and Allison Zajicek continued to be a force at the net helping out with eight assisted blocks.

The Golden Eagles finished the weekend 2-2. Cassie Yates was named to the Ferris State All-Tournament team. The team returns to the new floor of Lysaker Gymnasium on August 30^th. The team hosts Chadron State University at 4:00 p.m.

For more information, visit the UMC Athletics Web site at www.goldeneaglesports.com.