MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Minot State University volleyball team lost both matches it played Friday during the first day of the Minnesota State University-Moorhead Tournament.
The Beavers fell in four games to fellow NCAA Year 2 Candidacy program University of Sioux Falls in the opener and was defeated 3-0 by NCAA Division II Bemidji State in the second game.
Against Sioux Falls, MSU opened with a solid 25-22 win in game 1, but struggled at times over the next three. MSU fell 25-13, 25-8 and 25-18 over the final three games.
“We played well in the first game and then lacked confidence in the rest of the match,” said MSU head coach Johnna Torr. “In the Bemidji game, again, we played well in the first and then were afraid to make mistakes in game 2 and 3. Because of that, we didn't play like ourselves.”
Leading the way offensively against Sioux Falls was Janice-Rose Reinbolt (MH, Sr., Maple Creek, Saskatchewan) with 11 kills. Redshirt freshman Sara Friesen (MH, Brandon, Manitoba) added 10 kills while freshman Jen Dixon (OH, Brandon, Manitoba) finished with eight. Abbey Aide (Setter, So., Bottineau, N.D.) finished with a team-high 33 assists and added three kills from the setter position. Leading the Beavers defense was Jenna Moffatt (Libero, Fr., Brandon, Manitoba) with 14 digs.
“Sara Friesen played pretty consistent for us all day,” Torr said.
Sioux Falls (11-3 overall) got 16 kills and six digs from Kaprice Glover in the win.
In the second match, MSU led 22-21 in game 1, but couldn't hold on for the win. Minot State ended up getting swept by BSU, 25-23, 25-16, 25-10.
Freshman Annie Assel (MH, Fr., Bismarck, N.D.) led the offense with eight kills. Dixon added 19 digs and an ace and Aide finished with 17 assists.
MSU played for the first time in two weeks and is coming off a stressful week in which junior setter Brieanne Engel (Balgonie, Saskatchewan) was injured in a car accident last weekend.
“It was a tough day after the long break and a tough week,” said Torr.
The Beavers (1-9 overall) are back in Moorhead for a second day of tournament play as they take on Northern State University (S.D.) Saturday at 10 a.m. and host MSU-Moorhead at 5:30 p.m.
