Coon Rapids, Minn. - 


The Northland volleyball team opened the 2024 season on the road with four matches at the MCAC Crossover Tournament Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23-24 at Anoka-Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids. 
The Pioneers opened the tournament against Minnesota West, a perennially strong team that went 24-9 a year ago and finished as the NJCAA Region XIII-B runner-up behind national runner-up Century College. The Blue Jays were firing on all cylinders and took Friday's match in straight sets 25-18, 25-16, 25-16. 
The Pioneers' second match on Friday was against fellow MCAC North competitor Alexandria in a match that does not count toward the division standings. The Pioneers and Legends met twice during the 2023 regular season, with the Legends winning 3-0 in Alexandria and 3-2 in Thief River Falls. 
The Pioneers had the Legends on the ropes Friday and they appeared to be headed toward win number one on the season. After dropping the first set 25-16, the Pioneers won a wild second set 36-34 and took a 2-1 lead with a 25-20 win in set number three. The Pioneers and Legends needed extra points to decide the fourth set, with the Legends avoiding the four-set loss with a 28-26 win. The fifth and final set went to Alexandria 15-10. 
Freshman setter Kaydence Augustine had 48 assists in the five-set match, with Sierra Westberg, 18, Rylie Fredrickson, 17, and Riley Gust, 12, all reaching double digits in kills. Defensively,  Jada Kosmatka led the way with 31 digs, with Gust, Fredrickson and Augustine recording 19 digs apiece. 
The Pioneers bounced back from the disappointing loss and swept the Hibbing Cardinals in match number one on Saturday morning. The Pioneers defeated the Cardinals 25-14, 25-22, 25-14. Gust, 11, Westberg, 10, reached double figures fro the Pioneers. Kosmatka recorded four service aces and added 13 digs, and Augustine finished with 27 assists. 
The Pioneers concluded the tournament with a three-set loss to the Cyclones of St. Cloud Technical and Community College. The Cyclones won a tight first set 25-22, took the second set with relative ease by a score of 25-11 and took the match with a 25-22 victory in the third set. 
The Pioneers begin MCAC North play Wednesday with their 2024 home opener against Central Lakes. First serve is at 6:30 p.m.     

Minnesota West 3, Northland 0
n Scores - MN West def. Northland 25-18, 25-16, 25-16.
n Assists - Kaydence Augustine 25, Riley Gust 1, Rylie Fredrickson 1, Jada Kosmatka 1, Lily Holthusen 1. 
n Kills - Riley Gust 10, Rylie Fredrickson 8, Sierra Westberg 7, Tessa Hoglo 4, Lily Holthusen 1.
n Service Aces - Jada Kosmatka 1, Kaydence Augustine 1
n Blocks (solo-assist) - Rylie Fredrickson 0-1, Lily Holthusen 0-1, Tessa Hoglo 0-1. 
n Digs - Riley Gust 14, Rylie Fredrickson 8, Jada Kosmatka 7, Kaydence Augustine 5, Tessa Hoglo 3, Sierra Westberg 2.

Alexandria 3, Northland 2
• Scores - Alexandria def. Northland 25-16, 34-36, 20-25, 28-26, 15-10.n Assists - Kaydence Augustine 48, Lily Holthusen 2, Sierra Westberg 2, Riley Gust 1, Rylie Fredrickson 1, Tessa hoglo 1.  
• Kills - Sierra Westberg 18, Rylie Fredrickson 17, Riley Gust 12, Tessa Hoglo 8, Lily Holthusen 5, Kaydence Augustine 1.
• Service Aces - Jada Kosmatka 4, Riley Gust 4, Rylie Fredrickson 3, Lily Holhtusen 1, Kaydence Augustine 1.
• Blocks (solo-assist) - Sierra Westberg 0-1, Tessa Hoglo 0-1. 
• Digs - Jada Kosmatka 31, Riley Gust 19, Rylie Fredrickson 19, Kaydence Augustine 19, Sierra Westberg 18, Tessa Hoglo 2 

Northland 3, Hibbing 0
• Scores - NCTC def. Hibbing 25-14, 25-22, 25-14. 
• Assists - Kaydence Augustine 27, Rylie Fredrickson 2, Riley Gust 1, Sierra Westberg 1.
• Kills - Riley Gust 11, Sierra Westberg 10, Rylie Fredrickson  7, Jada Kosmatka 2, Lily Holthusen 2, Tessa Hoglo 1.
• Service Aces - Jada Kosmatka 4, Rylie Fredrickson 2, Kaydence Augustine 2, Sierra Westberg 1.
• Blocks (solo-assist) - Lily Holthusen 0-1, Kaydence Augustine 0-1, Sierra Westberg 0-1, Tessa Hoglo 0-3.
• Digs - Jada Kosmatka 13, Riley Gust 6, Rylie Fredrickson 6, Lily Holthusen 4, Kaydence Augustine 6, Sierra Westberg 3, Tessa Hoglo 2.

St. Cloud 3, Northland 0
• Scores - St. Cloud def. Northland 25-22, 25-11, 25-22. 
• Assists - Kaydence Augustine 25, Rylie Fredrickson 1, Tessa Hoglo 1. 
• Kills - Sierra Westberg 10, Riley Gust 9, Rylie Fredrickson 4, Jada Kosmatka 2, Lily Holthusen 1, Tessa Hoglo 1. 
• Service Aces - Rylie Fredrickson 1, Kaydence Augustine 1. 
• Blocks (solo-assist) - Riley Gust 0-2, Kaydence Augustine 0-2, Tessa Hoglo 0-3.
• Digs - Riley Gust 19, Jada Kosmatka 16, Sierra Westberg 13, Rylie Fredrickson 9, Kaydence Augustine 5, Lily Holthusen 1, Tessa Hoglo 1.