MINOT, N.D. – Not much separated the Minot State University and Dickinson State volleyball teams Wednesday.

In fact, over a five-game marathon, each team scored 99 total points.

But it was the Blue Hawks that made a couple more plays down the stretch in game 5 to earn a 3-2 (19-25, 26-24, 25-15, 14-25, 15-10) win over the Beavers in Dakota Athletic Conference volleyball at the MSU Dome.

“These are two pretty evenly matched teams. It was fun. The girls had fun overall,” said MSU head coach Johnna Torr. “Of course, it would have been more fun to win.”

The Beavers looked well on their way to a win as they jumped out to a game 1 win and led late in game 2. But DSU battled back to take game 2 and game 3.

“The way things played out, it would have certainly helped our cause to finish that,” Torr said. “But we did make some corrections from that game. We seemed to pass on our heels and run around the ball.”

Game 3 proved to be double trouble for the Beavers. Not only did MSU fall by a 10-point margin, but lost starting setter Abbey Aide (So., Bottineau, N.D.) to an injury. Still, the Beavers rallied in game 4.

It wasn't as difficult as it should have been,” Torr said of getting past the injury and losing game 3. “Abbey is a big part of our offense and makes plays and I think the rest of the team understands that and rallied around that.”

In Aide's absence, Jenna Moffatt (Fr., Libero, Brandon, Manitoba) filled in nicely, garnering 22 assists over the final two games. In Moffatt's absence at her normal libero position was Emily Hoehn (Libero, So., Lanigan, Saskatchewan), who also played a solid match, finishing with 11 digs.

“Emily did a great job. She was one of the players running around the ball early and stepped up in that role,” said Torr. “And, Jenna did a nice job in a role she hasn't been in all year.”

The Blue Hawks now have the upper hand on the Beavers for second place in the conference as they upped their one-game lead to two and have a win on MSU's home court. Dickinson finished the first half of the season in second place with a 6-1 conference record. MSU fell to 4-3 after half of the DAC season.

Pacing Dickinson State on offense was Courtnie Trustem and Iva Cepic who both collected 11 kills.

MSU got 20 kills from Jen Dixon (Fr., OH, Brandon, Manitoba) – the second time Dixon has broken the 20 kill plateau this season. Jennifer Yausie (So., OH, Colonsay, Saskatchewan) added 12 kills, while Janice Rose Reinbolt (Jr., MH, Maple Creek, Saskatchewan) and Shari Dueck (Sr., RS, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan) each chipped in with 10 kills. Aide finished with 31 assists, five digs and two kills, while Moffatt added 11 digs to her 22 assists.

The Beavers (6-15 overall) are now off until a nonconference match next Wednesday with Briarcrest College (Saskatchewan) and do not resume conference play until their final home weekend with Jamestown College Oct. 15 an Valley City State Oct. 16.