MINOT, N.D.- The Minot State Beavers volleyball team opens up its home season Tuesday night, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m. playing a non-conference match against NSIC foe the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles.

Last time out
The Beavers (0-4 overall) opened up the season on the road in Topeka, Kan., with an 0-4 performance over the weekend despite taking Cameron University to a fifth set in the season opener.

Minot State was scheduled for another tournament this past weekend in Kearney, Neb., but had to withdraw because of COVID-19 protocols.

Improvements for the Beavers
After a less than ideal opening weekend, coach Dana Cordova-Jacobson had the following comments on how the Beavers can improve: "A main area we need to focus on heading into Tuesday night is our serve receive. We have to be able to make a play and have at least two options to set every time out of serve receive."

Leading the way
Early in the young season, the Beavers are led by 6-foot-1 freshman outside hitter Alexandra Koontz with 37 kills, 5-11 outside hitter Roxy King, a graduate student, with 27 kills, and senior 5-10 setter Sophia Peterson with 86 assists.

Facing the Golden Eagles
Traditionally, Minnesota Crookston has had the upper hand in the conference matchup with 12 wins and 3 losses against Minot State. However, the Beavers were able to take the last match between the schools to a fifth set back in 2019.

Scouting Minnesota Crookston
The Golden Eagles of Minnesota Crookston also enter the match with a record of 0-4 losing all four of their opening weekend matches in Pueblo, Colo. Nevertheless, Minnesota Crookston is led by 6-1 redshirt-sophomore outside hitter Lauren Wallace with her 42 kills, 5-9 sophomore middle blocker Charlie Krieg with her 32 kills, and 5-8 redshirt-freshman setter Natalie Koke with her 113 assists.

Looking Ahead
Following the Tuesday night match with Minnesota Crookston, things do not get any easier for the Beavers as they travel to St. Paul, Minn., to take on the No. 1-ranked Golden Bears of Concordia University-St. Paul on Friday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m.