MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State volleyball team hits the road feeling good after a win, and some good news.

The Beavers rolled to a three-set victory over visiting Dickinson State on Tuesday night and look to add to that momentum as they battle at Minnesota Duluth on Friday and at No. 3-ranked St. Cloud State on Saturday.

Adding to the positive momentum that the Beavers take into the weekend is the announcement earlier Thursday by Kevin Harmon, Minot State's Vice President of Student Affairs and Intercollegiate Athletics, that the interim tag has been removed from coach Alex Courtney who is now the full-time head coach for the Beaver volleyball program.

"Alex has done everything I have asked of her as head coach," Harmon said, adding, "she is respectful of our student-athletes, organized, and understands our sense of place and who we want to become as an athletic program. Ms. Courtney is an outstanding role model for our student-athletes, and I am excited that we can make a positive impact on the lives of our student-athletes in one of the premier volleyball leagues in NCAA Division II.

"We see the best teams in the country in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, and we are committed to continuous improvement of our volleyball program which begins by giving our student-athletes the opportunity to work with a high-character person such as Coach Courtney."

Hired as an assistant coach in the spring of 2022, Courtney took over leadership of the team as interim head coach in February of this year.

The Beavers (2-19 overall, 0-13 NSIC) will see two of the best in the country this weekend as Minnesota Duluth (12-9, 5-8) is the first team listed in "other's receiving votes" in this week's AVCA Top 25 poll, while the 3^rd-ranked Huskies (19-2, 13-0) lead the NSIC.

Samantha Paulsen leads the way offensively for the Bulldogs as she has a .342 hitting percentage, which is eighth-best in the NSIC, and averages 2.94 kills per set, which ranks 11^th in the league. Kaylyn Madison powers Minnesota Duluth's defense averaging 4.72 digs per set, which is sixth-best in the NSIC.

Kenzie Foley leads the way for St. Cloud State offensively with a league-best 4.97 kills per set, while setter Emma Berran is third-best in the NSIC as she averages 11.38 assists per set.

Minot State's right-side hitter Paulina Kowalska and outside hitter Madelynn Boop provided a one-two punch at the net with 168 and 156 kills, respectively, for the Beavers, while Boop adds in 155 digs as one of the team leaders defensively, as well.

Setters Jaina Macaulay (259 assists) and Emily Barker (227 assists) help get the Beaver attack started, while Viktoria Sedova leads the team with 180 digs, and middle blocker Bailee Brommenschenkel helps out with 69 blocks for the Beavers, who are looking for their first win against Minnesota Duluth and their first against St. Cloud State since the 2014 season.