MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State University volleyball team lost in three sets to the No. 10 ranked Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Friday evening, but the Beavers did not go down without a fight.
 
In the first set the MSU players came out with a solid game, but fell 25-15. The highlight of that first set was freshman libero Logan Desorcy's (St. Andrews, Manitoba) defense. Digging seven balls in the set the newcomer was able to help the Beavers push ahead.
 
During the second set, however, Desorcy came out with an injury, but not before staying in the game and playing through visible pain. Digging a serve and a kill in the second set she came out of the match at a timeout call by head coach Ben Kaszeta.
 
"That kid's got a whole lot of fight," Kaszeta said. "She didn't want to come out of the game. I think she knew that she had to. She wanted to stay in there and she wanted to go. She still made a dig with the knee hurting. She has a ton of grit and a ton of fight."
 
Without being able to sub in another libero until the third match senior Tarah Dabovich (MH, Phoenix, Ariz.) went on in the backcourt to give the Beavers help on the defensive end. Without being able to find the rhythm they had in the first set they fell to the Bulldogs 25-9.
 
Coming out in the third set in a green jersey, with the rest of the team wearing white, Alison Fauta (OH, Fr., Hilo, Hawaii) was ready to play libero and she made the most of the opportunity, playing out of position with two of the Beavers eight digs.
 
"For a kid, who in high school never played that role before, she's been learning all year and she's been soaking it up, she played very well," Kaszeta said.
 
Knowing his team was going up against one of the top opponents in the country Kaszeta was pleased with the way his team played in the final set (25-17) despite falling.
 
"We fought very well for us being out of sorts," Kaszeta said. "We were missing a starter in game three and kept it close up until they made their run. They're a very well coached team, their coach is very well respected and their program is well respected. We can't hang our heads with a loss that way, especially with the injury."
 
Leading the Beavers offensively was senior Mallory Sall (OH, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) who ended the match with seven kills. Behind Desorcy's eight digs was Rachel Fagerburg (OH, So., Tempe, Ariz.) with six of her own. Racking up 16 assists setter Kelsey Dewulf (Fr., Huntley, Ill.) led the team in that category.
 
Minot State will play again, tomorrow, November 7 at 3 p.m. against St. Cloud State in the MSU Dome.
 
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.