Totaling 15 blocks in three sets the Sioux Falls Cougars were able to win their 12th game of the season against the Minot State University volleyball team. With set scores of 8-25, 19-25 and 12-25 the Beavers had a hard time playing against the defense of their opponent.

"Their number 12 made a couple of adjustments in the game and she's a big presense at the net and a big blocker," said head coach Ben Kaszeta crediting USF player Michelle Ritland. "She did a great job closing blocks and setting blocks. We were aggressive with our swings, but unfortunately that made us predictable as well. We kept hitting balls into their blocks instead of changing."

Along with Ritland, who finished with eight total blocks, Jordan Calef finished with seven blocks of her own for the Cougars. Defensively for Minot State, Tarah Dabovich (MH, Sr., Phoenix, Ariz.) and Brileigh Boyce (OH, RFr., Houston, Texas) each tallied three blocks for Minot State. 

One positive the Beavers were able to take away from the match tonight was something they struggled with in previous matches. 

"We did pass serve a lot better today," Kaszeta said. "Something that we've been working on for a while. We were able to put it together, but we did pass serve better today."

Due to the blocking and forced errors Minot State ended the first set with a season-low -.571 attack percentage. Picking things up in the second set the Beavers hit .188 before dropping back below zero again in the third set hitting -.100.

Mallory Sall (OH, Sr., Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) led the team offensively with nine kills while freshman setter Kelsey Dewulf (Huntley, Ill.) finished with a 21 assists and libero Logan Desorcy (L, St. Andrews Manitoba) helped the defense with eight digs. 

Minot State will play its final two home games next week on November 6 and 7 against Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State. Games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. November 7 will mark senior night for the Beavers. 

About Minot State
Minot State University is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and NCAA Division II offering 14 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletics programs. The NSIC is a premier NCAA DII, 16-member conference featuring teams in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. The Beavers are the only public NCAA Division II institution in the state of North Dakota.