MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State University volleyball team took a 2-0 series lead in its matchup against Bemidji State Friday evening at the Minot State Dome.
But after falling in the next three sets Bemidji State spoiled what looked to become the first conference win for the MSU Beavers.

"We're still not taking chances," said head coach Ben Kaszeta. "We had chances at the end of game three, we had chances at the end of game five. Bemidji was a little bit more aggressive. Aggressive with their serves. We didn't pass as well. They deserved the win and we didn't."

The five sets played (25-22, 25-21, 22-25, 18-25, 12-15) wore down MSU a little bit at the end when freshman Alison Fuata (OH, Hilo, Hawaii) had to come in to give some of the veteran players some time to rest in the fourth and fifth sets.

One player that didn't need any breaks was Tarah Dabovich (Sr., MH, Phoenix, Ariz.) who finished the match with a team-high 12 kills as well as seven total blocks and two served aces. Dabovich led both teams with an attack percentage of .435.

"Tarah had a good game," Kaszeta said. "She moved well, she blocked well. Maybe having her mom here helped, but she played very well today. She moved on the court well."
Despite the high level of play from Dabovich the MSU Beavers (3-8, 0-4) couldn't hold on the lead they earned in the fifth set. With a 6-3 lead Bemidji State (4-9, 2-2) took a timeout and the teams switch sides with Minot State still in control.

With a final score of 12-15 the match was over and the teams left the court. One in a much better mood than the other.

"I think they're disappointment, they know they're better than that, they know they can push past those," Kaszeta said. "They know they're better than how they just finished. Game one and game two proved it. We were functioning well, we went after things harder and we took care of business. We got passive and Bemidji took it up a little bit. We made a lot of errors and Bemidji capitalized on that."

The loss won't stay with the team long though as they have to gear up to play Minnesota Crookston tomorrow afternoon.

"I think we'll regroup," Kaszeta said. "I'll show them film on Crookston, which Bemidji just beat the other day in a five-setter. I'll show them that film and let them go. See what happens."

Minot State will play Minnesota Crookston on September 26 at 3 p.m. at 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.