Well, sort of.

Minot State volleyball had gone two years without defeating a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponent, but that changed Saturday when the Beavers defeated Bemidji State three sets to one at the MSU Dome as part of the Minot State Classic.

MSU’s NSIC losing skid had been at 41 games after the Beavers dropped a 3-1 contest to MSU Moorhead earlier in the day, but neither match counted for the Beavers’ conference record this year, so the NSIC losing streak still remains at 40.

Still, paired with two victories against MSU Billings and SD School of Mines of Friday, new coach Dana Cordova will take a 3-1 start and the confidence that grows in her young team because of it.

Photos courtesy of Sean Arbaut/Minot State athletics Minot State's Shelby Spuller (8) celebrates with her teammates after a point.

“It feels really good. Coming from the team last year, it was pretty tough. But this team has so much more energy and it’s so much more fun to play this type of volleyball,” MSU sophomore outside hitter Shelby Spuller said. “I think it’s helping us become a better team and a stronger team.”

In its first match, MSU played competitively against Moorhead, but fell 25-23, 20-25, 29-27 and 25-16. The Beavers might ponder what could have been had they closed the third set when they had a 24-22 lead.

“If we win that third set, we might be 4-0 right now,” Cordova said. “But it’s okay, everything happens for a reason. We have Moorhead in two weeks and it will be circled on our calendar. We’re a different team now, and I think we’re showing it. People are going to see these scores and I don’t think they’ll underestimate us.”

Spuller had 17 kills for MSU in the match, while Emily Falldorf had 10 and Jeanne Brenner had nine. Karli Koza racked up 22 digs and Kelsey DeWulf contributed 43 assists.

In the Bemidji State game, MSU fell behind after the first set but rebounded to win 20-25, 25-18, 25-19 and 25-19.

Photos courtesy of Sean Arbaut/Minot State athletics Minot State's Kelsey DeWulf celebrates after a point during a college volleyball match Saturday at the MSU Dome in Minot

“This whole weekend was really good for us,” Cordova said. “It was big to get three big wins the first weekend. You never know how you’re going to come out. But the energy of the bench and the energy of everything was just awesome.”

Spuller had 13 kills for the Beavers, while Hayley Swain had 11 and Falldorf chipped in eight. Falldorf had five blocks, while Swain contributed four. DeWulf racked up 40 assists and Koza had 20 digs.

MSU is back in action on Friday against Minnesota State Mankato in the Northern State Invitational at Aberdeen, S.D.

“The unity around this team is incredible right now,” Cordova said. “Throughout the roster, I can’t ask for a better bench. They truly care about each other. It’s not about what we’re doing on the court, it’s what we’re doing off the court that’s helping us build our relationship on it.”

Garrick Hodge covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @Garrick_Hodge.

Photos courtesy of Sean Arbaut/Minot State athletics MSU's Karli Koza (18) digs out a ball Saturday.