FAYETTE, IOWA – Trailing 10-6 in the fifth set of their first game the Minot State University women's volleyball team (3-2, 0-0) had their backs against a wall.
 
South Dakota Mines (3-2) had just gone on a five to nothing run and the Beavers needed to stop the bleeding.
 
The five sets (18-25, 25-17, 25-23, 15-25, 17-15) showed both teams struggling at one moment and both teams firing on all cylinders in the next.
 
In the first set coach Kaszeta called a timeout late knowing his team would not likely win as the other team had a 22-12 lead, but he wanted his players to get focused.
 
"He was trying to give us a break, trying to get them out of their system, trying to slow them down a little bit and get us going," said freshman Kelsey Dewulf (Huntley, Ill.).
 
Going on a 6-3 run to end the first series the MSU team was gaining momentum and used it to win the next two sets.
 
"We were a little frantic," said Kaszeta. "That first timeout was to calm us down and get us playing right. It worked. We started playing right at the end of the game. It brought us back into what our strengths were."
 
After falling in the fourth set by a margin of 10 and trailing in the final set 10-6 the Beavers looked like they lost the rhythm they had found just a few minutes before.
 
With consistent defensive play from Dewulf and sophomore Rachel Fagerburg (Tempe, Ariz.), each finishing the set with five or more digs, and offensive standouts Taylor Butters (Jr., Spokane, Wash.) and Mallory Sall (Sr., Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) doing their parts Minot State was able to regain its focus. Gaining some help with a serving error from the opposition MSU was able to climb back into the lead and win the set 17-15 and the series.
 
Senior Taylor Dabovich (Phoenix, Ariz.) led the team with 13 kills adding four block assists and a served ace. Fagerburg led the team with 19 digs contributing 11 kills for a well-rounded game while Dewulf helped the offense with 49 assists.
 
In the second match of the day Michigan Tech (6-0) was able to keep their perfect streak going by not losing a single set (14-25, 18-25, 26-28). So far this year the Huskies are 18-0 in sets.
 
"Their middles were very fast and they knew how to pick angles that we weren't expecting," Dewulf said. "They're a very good middle-based team. We probable have better bangers and all that, but they caught us out of system a lot."
 
Doing their best to fight back the Beavers were able to lead the third set early and remain in the set giving the Huskies one of their toughest matchups this season.
 
But wins this early is the season, while nice to have, are not the most important thing.
 
"These tournament games are important, not as much for winning, but we need to get used to each other before conference games," Dabovich said. "These tournaments are very important for team chemistry."
 
With Dewulf and fellow freshman Logan Desorcy (St. Andrews, Manitoba) these early matches are key to their future success.
 
"Getting communication down and working with the players is great," Dewulf said. "It's getting there. It's still a little iffy. They call their runs different than what I called them in high school and club, but it's going to be better after this weekend."
 
Teaching the freshman how to play to the best of their abilities is something every member of the team plays a part in.
 
"As their emotions ride a little bit we're going to ride up and down with them," Kaszeta said. "Luckily our leadership is able to bring them down and keep reassuring them. I can't ask for better leaders out of the upperclassmen. "
 
As one of two seniors on the team Tarah Dabovich is one of the leading teammates that help the freshmen learn their roles.
 
"Positivity is a huge thing," Dabovich said. "You always have to motivate them even when they're down. We have to push them as hard as they can go. It's hard being a freshman and starting, but you have to push them to a certain point and they can handle it."
 
The Beavers will get two more chances to practice as a team as they play two matches on September 12 at 1 p.m. against Upper Iowa and at 5 p.m. against Northern Michigan.

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.