FROM COACH BAREA
"First of all, this is one heck of a competitive tournament," head coach Leigh Barea said. "Both matches we battled all the way and were a few points from the result going the other way. It will be another battle tomorrow for our team; we just have to focus on doing the simple things and executing in key moments."
 
GAME ONE, Minnesota Crookston 3, Parkside 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Eagles got out to a commanding lead after taking the first two sets by scores of 25-19 and 26-24. The Rangers bounced back in set three, winning convincingly 25-16 after leading 23 -12 earlier in the set. However, the Golden Eagles spoiled Parkside's home opener with a tough 25-23 win in set four to take the match.
 
STATWORTHY
The Rangers led in kills (49-43), aces (7-6), assists (49-41), digs (85-78) and blocks (9-7), but also had six more errors. Both teams were about even in hitting percentage, as UMC finished at .110 and Parkside went .107. Lexie Calloway led the team with 17 kills while Katie Adams had 11. Elizabeth Mavis had five blocks and Ann Leo had 25 digs and three aces.
 
GAME TWO, Saginaw Valley State 3, Parkside 2
 
WHAT HAPPENED
The Rangers came within two points of securing their first victory of the young 2018 season, as they fell to SVSU in a five set thriller 25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 22-25, 15-13. Sets went back and forth, with the Cardinals taking one, three and five and the Rangers hanging right in by taking sets two and four.
 
STATWORTHY
For the second straight game, the Rangers led in blocks, kills and digs, but the Cardinals owned the higher hitting percentage at .172 to the Rangers' .153. Adams filled up the stat sheet for Parkside, finishing with a team-leading 27 assists and finishing second with 15 kills. For the second straight game, Calloway finished with 17 kills to lead the way.
 
BLOCK PARTY
The Rangers were all over the net on defense, finishing with 15 total blocks. Senior Elizabeth Mavis had a pair of solo blocks and six block assists while freshman Jazmine Neal had seven block assists.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Day two of the Parkside Hampton Inn Invitational will pick up early on Saturday morning, with the first action starting at 9 a.m. The Rangers will face Bemidji State at 1 p.m. and Purdue Northwest at 5 p.m. to close out the weekend.