Sean Arbaut/Minot State athletics Minot State's Jeanne Brenner (13) goes for a kill during a college volleyball game Friday at the MSU Dome.

Sophomore Shelby Spuller had eight kills and freshman Karli Koza posted 20 digs, but a solid effort by Minot State came up short as the Beavers lost to 17th-ranked Augustana 25-21, 25-18, 25-11 on Friday in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference match in the Minot State Dome.

It marked the 14th time this season that Spuller has recorded at least eight kills in a match, while Koza reached double figures in digs for the 15th time this year. Koza also notched at least 20 digs in a match for the seventh time on the 2017 season.

Minot State, which dropped to 3-13 overall and 0-8 in the NSIC, also received 10 digs from Mekayla Gurley who posted her seventh double-figure dig match of the season.

Hayley Swain notched six kills and had a .385 attack percentage, while Emily Falldorf and Brileigh Boyce each finished with four kills. Kelsey Dewulf added 20 assists, seven digs and a kill, while Falldorf led the Beavers with six blocks and Boyce and Spuller each finished with three blocks.

Augustana, which improved to 13-5 overall and 4-4 in conference play, was led by Bailey Koch who had 12 kills and finished with a .579 attack percentage. Courtney Place added eight kills and Lauren Waite and Payton Rosendahl each finished with seven kills.

Augustana jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first set, but the Beavers fought back. Two kills by Spuller and a kill by Swain helped the Beavers tie the score at 7-7.

Minot State fell behind 10-8, but rallied behind a kill from Spuller and three straight Viking attack errors to take a 12-10 lead. The Beavers clung to the lead and still led 15-14, but the Vikings used a 5-0 run to take the lead for good.

Minot State fought to within 23-21, but Augustana closed out the first set with a kill by Waite and an MSU attack error.

The second set was tightly contested throughout as the Beavers held a 16-15 lead following a kill by Spuller and an Augustana attack error. The Vikings responded with a 5-1 run to regain the lead at 20-17. Augustana closed out the second set with a 5-0 run.

Augustana controlled the third set from the outset and completed the sweep with a 25-11 win.

Minot State returns to action this afternoon when it hosts Wayne State at 1 p.m. in the Minot State Dome.

— Minot State athletics