MINOT, N.D. – In two of the three sets the Minot State University volleyball team challenged No. 1 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in a game won by the visitors 3-0 (19-25, 12-25, 18-25).
 
Despite this being their most recent loss in the NSIC for a team who has yet to win a conference game, head coach Ben Kaszeta was pleased with how his team performed against such a tough opponent and knows this is a move in the right direction.
 
"Without a doubt if we play that way against teams who aren't the No. 1 team in the country we win," Kaszeta said. "When we play against a team and think we're going to lose then we play loose. We play hard all the time, but we don't play as free. When we play free we don't commit as many mistakes. It's not even close. We don't have a single hitter in the negative today."
 
The Beavers leading hitters, Shelby Spuller (11 kills) and Hayley Swain (8) today not only were in the positive, but combined for a .316 attack percentage. Janelle Nagy and Emily Falldorf also played well offensively with six and five kills, respectively.
 
"They decided to key in on Emily who has been hot for us this year and they blocked her a few times, but the others stepped up and played well today," Kaszeta said. "It was great to see the others step up like Shelby and Hayley. Shelby has been growing every week. She keeps getting better and better."
 
Spuller, who ranks second on the team with 126 total kills, matched her personal record against an NSIC opponent with 11.
 
Kelsey Dewulf assisted on 31 of the teams 33 kills while Cindy Pelo led the team with eight digs.
 
Minot State will be on the road next week as the team visits Bemidji State on Friday, October 14 and Minnesota Crookston on Saturday, October 15. Those games are scheduled for 7 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.
 
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.