Box Score
CROOKSTON, Minn. – Minot State University had a fantastic start, but couldn't hold the momentum as the Beavers fell to Minnesota Crookston in NCAA Division II women's volleyball Tuesday at Lysaker Gymnasium.
MSU controlled the early portion of the match, winning set 1 25-18. But after the teams went back and fourth in a 25-18 win for Crookston in set 2, it was all Golden Eagles. UMC won the final two sets 25-15 and 25-20.
“We made too many errors to win. We have to be more consistent,” said MSU head coach Travis Ward. “You can look at the first game to see the quality we can play, but our quality touches went down from there. They made some adjustments, but I thought it was more about what we didn't do.”
The Beavers (9-10 overall) seemed to be able to play point-for-point with Crookston until the match reached the teens. After that, the Golden Eagles pulled away in all but set 1.
“We didn't pass well and will have to respond better to any weird things that come up in the future,” Ward said.
Errors plagued the Beavers much of the night after set 1. MSU went from hitting right .500 to just .057 for the match. Minot State mustered just four kills on 40 total attacks with 14 errors in set 3. MSU also had 10 service errors and just four aces in the match.
Crookston (9-13), however, was efficient on the serve, committing just four errors compared to eight aces.
The Golden Eagles got a big match from Brittany Looker who finished with 17 kills and 13 digs on UMC's “Dig Pink” night. Katie Miedtke added 10 kills and five block assists. Paige Mitchell (21 assists) and Janie Bauer (19 assists) split time as the teams setter. Chelsea Wiesner paced the UMC defense with 21 digs.
Jen Dixon (So., OH, Brandon, Manitoba) and Janice Reinbolt (Sr., MH, Maple Creek, Saskatchewan) combined for 25 of the team's 37 kills. Dixon, Jenna Moffatt (So., L, Brandon, Manitoba) and Emily Byrne (Fr., S, Reno, Nev.) all had double figure digs led by Dixon's 16. Byrne added 33 assists to her 11 digs and Moffatt finished with 13 digs.
The Beavers continue on the road this week as they travel to South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State on the weekend before returning to Minot to take on Mines in the Beavers “Dig Pink” night Monday at 7 p.m. at the MSU Dome.
– GO BEAVERS –
