Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MINOT, N.D. – After beginning the season with their first 2-0 start in the past six seasons, the Minot State University volleyball team has hit a small slump. The Beavers dropped their first two games to start the Northern State Invitational on Friday, Sept. 12.

Minnesota-Crookston, which came into the match undefeated, improved to 5-0 with a 3-1 win against the Beavers Friday morning. After losing a close first set 25-23 the Beavers went on to lost the second set 25-19.

Minot State showed significant improvement in the third set, winning 25-16. The Beavers committed their fewest amount of errors in the third set and Crookston recorded their lowest hitting percentage.

Crookston came back with a very strong final set, though, and ended the match with a 25-16 set of their own.

Freshman Rachel Fagerburg (OH, Tempe, Ariz.) stood out for the Beavers receiving her first significant amount of time out on the court. Fagerburg tallied 19 kills in the contest and ended the match with a .286 hitting percentage. The Beavers Jen Dixon (Sr., OH, Brandon, Manitoba) provided another solid performance recording 15 kills of her own and 15 digs.

Libero Cindy Pelo (Jr., Idaho Falls, Idaho) led the team defensively with 20 digs.

The Beavers tried to turn things around in the afternoon, but were stymied by the Huskies of St. Cloud State University. While the Beavers lost in three straight sets, the match proved to be closer than the score-line itself. The first two sets were determined by just two points.

St. Cloud State went on to win the third and final set by a score of 25-17.

Dixon provided another consistent performance for the Beavers with 17 kills and 12 digs. Fagerburg and Tarah Dabovich (Jr., MH, Phoenix, Ariz.) both recorded 10 kills of their own.

The two losses on the day move Minot State to 2-4 overall for the season and they'll look to get back to the .500 mark tomorrow when they take the court against Northern State and Southwest Baptist University.