After trading the first four sets, Minot (3-7, 0-3 West Region) dropped the deciding fifth frame by the minimum to Mandan (7-4, 3-1 West Region), losing in front of its home crowd by scores of 25-22, 18-25, 23-25, 25-19, 15-13.

It was a hard-fought battle that the Majettes weren’t too upset about, considering they had left everything they had on the court. It just wasn’t enough.

“It’s kind of disappointing, but our team really worked hard and we did the best we could,” senior Elise Klein said, who finished with a team-high 15 kills. “I felt pretty confident. I had great sets from Brooke (Nelson) and I think overall, it was a good game. I wish we could have won it and carried it out, but I’m happy with our team even though we didn’t get the win.”

The two squads couldn’t be separated early in the opening set. The score was tied up on multiple occasions at 5-5, 6-6, 10-10, 11-11, 12-12, 13-13, 15-15 and 16-16 before Mandan jumped out to a slim 19-16 lead.

Alex Eisen/MDN Majettes libero Rylee Terrel (white) makes a dig Tuesday as teammate Kali Askvig (9) watches on at Minot High School.

The Majettes, despite getting kills from Klein and the blocking presence of Caitlyn Messner and Sydney Beck, couldn’t pull back the deficit. They got to within 24-22, but a soft attack attempt hit the top of the net and didn’t roll over to end the set. Messner had four blocks and Beck notched 13 kills in the match.

A rare kill by senior MHS libero Rylee Terrel, complemented by an ace from senior Kali Askvig, helped the Majettes claw back from a slow start to even the score at 6-6 in the second set.

Terrel collected a team-high 27 digs, followed by junior Morgan Theis with 20 and Askvig with 16.

A 15-11 Minot advantage evaporated to 15-14 before growing back out to 18-14. The Braves never got back to within two points in the second set.

Kills from Klein, Beck and an ace that hit the top of the net from Ashlyn Almy aided in closed out the frame, 25-18.

“In the (preseason) coaches’ poll they had us both at 44 points, so I knew we would be pretty evenly matched,” MHS coach Sherry Carlson said. “When you play those five gamers you want to end up on the winning end. So, this is tough. But, we will keep working hard.”

The Majettes carried over the momentum of winning their first set on their home court with a 7-3 start in set three. An ace from Mandan libero Lizi Leingang, however, had the score knotted back up at 10-10.

The score was last tied at 18-18. The Majettes got clutch kills from Abby Jarmin, Klein and a tap over the block by Beck on the second set point to claim the third frame by the minimum, 25-23.

Senior setter Nelson tossed up a staggering 45 assists in the match.

“It is kind of a tough loss, being the first home game,” Jarmin said. “But, I know there is going to be plenty more to win.”

The Majettes recovered from another slow start in the fourth frame to tie the score at 7-7. But, quickly fell back down by five points again at 14-9, 20-15, 22-17, 23-18 and 24-19.

Mandan forced the final fifth frame a point later, 25-19.

“It’s more their belief system and that they have to believe that they can,” Carlson said. “It’s the mental game for us. Got to get on the winning side and take a big game here or there.”

The final set was worth the price of admission alone. From desperation digs to pressure-packed kills, the teams traded the lead multiple times. Down 13-10 after kills from Mandan’s Megan Zander and Courtney Olson, the Majettes got a timely put down from Beck and back-to-back aces to even the score at 13-13.

“It is so unreal,” Jarmin said about the match coming down to the wire. “Your heart just races so much and you know you just have to put the ball in smart places and not just slam the ball.”

Something the Majettes couldn’t do. Two errors cost them the last two points and the match.

“It’s about making the right decision at the last few points,” Carlson said. “Instead of getting tight, just be confident.”

Mandan stats weren’t reported.

The Majettes have a week to prepare before facing the two-time defending state champions Bismarck Century on the road next Tuesday. They return home Sept. 14 with a match against state runner-up Bismarck High.

“The encouraging thing is Mandan beat Bismarck High,” Carlson said. “So, if we can play like this with them, then we are there. We have to realize that and take advantage of that. But, we are still the underdogs and that’s kind of a little advantage. But, it goes back to you got to believe.”

Alex Eisen covers Minot High School, Minot State athletics and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.