MINOT, N.D. -- Sophomore Shelby Spuller tallied 13 kills, but Minnesota State Moorhead defeated Minot State 25-18, 25-22, 25-12 in the Beavers Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener on Thursday in the Minot State Dome.

Spuller also added seven digs and two blocks for the Beavers who dropped to 3-6 overall and 0-1 in the NSIC. Spuller reached double figures in kills for the eighth time in nine matches this season.

Minot State also received eight kills from Jeanne Brenner, while Hayley Swain added seven kills. Swain had only one error in 16 attempts and finished with a .375 attack percentage for the match. Kelsey Dewulf recorded a double-double for Minot State as she finished with 33 assists and 14 digs.

Freshman Karli Koza recorded her ninth consecutive double-figure dig match as she finished with 14 digs, while Mekayla Gurley added 12 digs for the Beavers.

Minnesota State Moorhead, which improved to 6-3 overall and 1-0 in conference play, was led by Tyann Caspers who finished with 11 kills and a .417 attack percentage. Kaylyn Jenkins added nine kills, while Lauren Kiewiet finished with seven kills for the Dragons.

MSU Moorhead setter Ellie Hoyt added 30 assists, seven digs, two kills and a block, while Monica Vega led the team with 14 digs. The Dragons finished the match with a .291 hitting percentage as a team.

The Dragons broke a 3-3 deadlock in the first set with a 9-0 run to take a 12-3 lead. The Beavers used a 4-1 run, which included kills by Spuller and Spain, to climb to within 14-7.

The Beavers closed the gap to 21-15 late in the set, but the Dragons used a 4-2 run to close out the first set.

The second set was tightly contested throughout as it featured 14 ties and six lead changes. The Beavers held an 18-16 lead before MSU Moorhead responded with a 4-1 run to take a 20-19 lead.

A kill by Swain cut the lead to 23-22, but the Dragons got a kill by Caspers and a Minot State attack error to close the set.

Minnesota State Moorhead used a 6-0 run to start the third set to take an early lead. Minot State trailed 22-6 before putting together three straight points to cut the lead to 22-9, but the Dragons finished the set with a service ace to clinch the win.

Minot State returns to action on Saturday (Sept. 16) when it visits Northern State at 5 p.m. for an NSIC match.