Box score
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Injuries are starting to pile up for Minot State University volleyball.
The Beavers lost starting setter Emily Byrne (Fr., Reno, Nev.) in practice before taking on South Dakota Mines Friday and it carried over into play.
Mines won the match in straight sets, dropping MSU 3-0 (25-23, 25-14, 25-18) in non conference women's volleyball at the King Center Friday.
“Injuries are what they are and we don't want to use it as an excuse, but it's tough when your quarterback of the team goes down,” Ward said of Byrne. “It was unfortunate.”
While MSU struggled a bit without its top setter, according to Ward, his hitters didn't respond to the challenge.
“We had too many errors,” he said. “It's tough on them to have to adjust so quickly, but we didn't follow our principles.”
MSU used two different setters to try to replace Byrne. Jenna Moffat (So., L, Brandon, Manitoba), the team starting libero, had 13 assists and Chauncee Axelson (So., S, Williston, N.D.) added 10 assists.
The Beavers (9-11) had a chance to take set 1 but couldn't get one more key point. MSU led by as much as seven points in set 1.
“We had our chances, but didn't get it done,” Ward said.
MSU got nine kills from Jen Dixon (So., OH, Brandon, Manitoba) and eight from Janice Reinbolt (Sr., MH, Maple Creek, Saskatchewan), but neither hit very well as the two took 65 swings to get to the 17 kills.
The Hardrockers (20-4) earned its 16th win in its past 17 games. Mines got eight kills apiece from Madisen Lane and Justine Blade in the win.
Byrne is just the latest in a series of injuries that have hampered the Beavers all season. MSU has had two players not see any action at all this season and two others who have been out for a significant amount of time.
MSU plays at Black Hills State Saturday before retuning home for a pair of games Monday and Tuesday, including a rematch against Mines in the Beavers “Dig Pink” match Monday.
– GO BEAVERS –
