Box Score FAYETTE, IOWA. – The Minot State University volleyball team took the court Friday night against Upper Iowa University and narrowly evaded a loss.

The Beavers (12-13 overall, 7-8 NSIC) needed five sets to take down the Upper Iowa (6-19 overall, 2-13 NSIC), but MISU won 25-21, 22-25, 25-17, 22-25, 15-11.

Both teams had a poor hitting percentage throughout the match. Minot State ended with a .122 percentage while the Peacocks finished .126. There were a combined 64 hitting errors in the five sets.

"All the credit goes to Upper Iowa," said Minot State head coach Travis Ward. "They really pushed us and they made it really tough tonight. It's important important to learn how to win when you're not playing at the top of your game."

In the first set, Upper Iowa committed 10 hitting errors and had a hitting percentage of just .096. However, the Beavers struggled just as much in second set, committing 11 hitting errors in the 25-22 loss.

After trading sets three and four, MISU and UIU headed to the decisive fifth set. Jen Dixon (Jr., OH, Brandon, Manitoba) stepped up and made four of her game-high 18 kills to carry the Beavers to a 15-11 win to close the match.

Dixon recorded a double-double on the night with the 18 kills and 16 digs. Mallory Sall (So., OH, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) also notched a double-double with 15 kills and 17 digs.

Defensively, Minot State collected a season-high 89 digs in the win. Ashley Heavenor (So., L, ) led the team with 22 digs while Emily Byrne (Jr., S, Reno, Nev.) had a season-high 21 digs. Byrne also dished out 42 assists.

Upper Iowa was led by Melanie Behnke who had 17 kills on 60 attempts. This was the Peacocks twelfth straight loss.

The Beavers will look to play better Saturday afternoon and reach .500 both overall and in Northern Sun play as they Winona State University (9-15 overall, 6-9 NSIC) in Winona, Minn.