MSU volleyball falls to St. Cloud State in four sets
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After pushing No. 6-ranked Minnesota Duluth in a contested three-set loss on Friday, the Minot State volleyball team returned to the court Saturday afternoon and gave St. Cloud State more than what they wished for as well.
The result, however, was another defeat.
The Beavers (6-7, 1-4 NSC) dropped a four-set decision to the Huskies (9-2, 5-0 NSIC) by set scores of 25-18, 25-11, 17-25 and 25-20. Another gritty performance with a sour final score line.
"We saw glimpses of how good we are," MSU senior outside hitter Katie Dufner said. "We just need to keep pushing and keep playing with that intensity every single day. We are going to get there."
The opening set was a game of runs. The Huskies used a 7-0 run to pull ahead 11-6. Then, a 6-1 run by the Beavers got MSU back within a point at 19-18. But, SCSU closed out the set with a 6-0 run to take it 25-18.
The Huskies put down 17 kills in the first set, led by Rachel Linsey with six, for a modest .314 hitting percentage. The Beavers were less effective with a .125 hitting percentage.
MSU middle hitter Hayley Swain, however, went 5-for-5 on attack attempts in the first set and went on to finish with a team-high 10 kills. Two other Beavers also put down 10 kills: Shelby Spuller and Dufner.
Dufner didn't play in the first set and provided a needed spark off the bench for the Beavers.
"Our sets were really good and our passes were on," Dufner said. "Our middles were calling the blocks for me, so they just really opened it up for me. I was able to just go out there and kill it."
MSU let the second set slip away early with the Huskies jumping out to a 7-1 lead and cruised to a 25-11 set victory.
An ace from Emily Falldorf had the Beavers leading 9-4 to start the third set. MSU's lead grew to 16-10 when St. Cloud State decided to take another timeout to settle things down.
Some controversy with tipped balls and players getting into the net raised the intensity level in the later part of the third set. The Beavers rose to the occasion by hitting at .333 clip to take the must-win set 25-17 and force a fourth frame.
"We just need to keep working hard," Dufner said. "Have confidence in everything that we do. Keep pushing."
Tied at 12, 13, 14 and 15 points in the fourth set, the Huskies eventually pulled away with the help of Abby Templin notching seven kills in the frame. Linsey had a game-high 19 kills for SCSU.
MSU setter Kelsey Dewulf tossed up 40 assists and libero Karli Koza picked up a team-high 16 digs.
Next up, the Beavers have a non-conference match Tuesday at 6 p.m. against Dickinson State at the Minot State Dome.
Alex Eisen covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.