BOX SCORE

MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University jumped out to a 2-0 lead and fended off a third-set push by Valley City State in nonconference NCAA Division II volleyball Friday at the MSU Dome.

 
The Beavers (5-6 overall) won for the third straight time, the first three-match winning streak since the 2009 season, taking the match 25-22, 25-16, 25-22. MSU and Valley City State played for the first time since MSU moved up to NCAA and out of the Dakota Athletic Conference.

“It was a healthy, thank goodness moment,” said MSU head coach Travis Ward about set 3. “We didn't want to let them hang around.”

The Beavers (5-6 overall) were especially tough in the second set as they raced to a 25-16 win in set 2. Ward, however, knew that the Vikings (6-11) would not go away.

“They are a good team. Susan (VCSU head coach Susan Kolbow) has them playing well and going in the right direction,” he said. “They are a little older in places than we are and it showed. But we were able to make some plays. We have a good system, it works, and the kids are buying into it and getting better.”

 
MSU's Jaylene Koski (Fr., OH, Humbolt, Saskatchewan) paced the Beavers with 12 kills, while Jen Dixon (So., OH, Brandon, Manitoba) added 10 kills. Emily Byrne (Fr., S, Reno, Nev.) finished with 31 assists and three aces.

While his mainstays were solid, Ward wanted to make sure his bench received ample credit.

“Our bench was great. Those are the kids who are working their butts off every day and they are 100 percent into the game,” he said. “They did a great job in set 3. As much as we wanted to win that one and get it over, I was confident in how they were playing. It would have been hard for Valley to come all the way back.”

Chelsey Bryant (So., OH, Brandon, Manitoba) added four aces and six digs for the Beavers.

Kadee Melby had 10 kills on 15 attacks for the Vikings (6-11) in the loss. Anna Neufeld added 26 assists for VCSU.

Minot State has a big road contest next week as the Beavers travel to the University of Mary Tuesday.