Alex Eisen/MDN Minot High senior Sydney Beck (12) tips the ball over the net Tuesday evening against Williston in the Majettes' home opener.

The Majettes’ home opener against Williston on Tuesday was anything but smooth at first.

It took just two minutes for the Coyotes to silence what was a rowdy crowd at Minot High, scoring the first six points of the opening set and forcing an early timeout. The Majettes looked flustered and out of sync, desperate to find their footing.

But once they did, it was all downhill for the Coyotes.

The Majettes showed their will to win, defeating Williston at home, 3-1. After a rough start in the opening set, the Majettes rallied to take a commanding 17-11 lead. Senior Sydney Beck led the way down the stretch, delivering two key kills to help the Majettes to a 25-19 win.

“I think it was nerves at first,” Beck said. “But we just talked it through. I feel like when our energy goes up we play a lot better. We just played for each other instead of for ourselves, and it worked out.”

Things didn’t get much better for the Coyotes in the second set as the Majettes exploded to take a commanding 16-7 lead. Senior outside hitter Caitlyn Messner set the tempo, ambushing the Coyote defense with a flurry of kills, blocks and aces to give her team a 24-9 advantage.

After fending off set point four times, Williston finally broke when junior Alyson Lucy elevated for a massive kill. The shot hit a Coyote player right on the numbers of her jersey before hitting the ground, giving Minot a 25-13 victory.

“In game two we really just came out with authority,” head coach Sherry Carlson said. “There wasn’t a time where we gave up anything easy, and we really just pushed all the way to the end.”

After dropping the third set, the Majettes put an end to any hopes of a comeback, storming forward to take an imposing 21-13 lead in the fourth set. Messner finally put the Coyotes away, launching a powerful kill to give them the 25-18 victory and the match win.

“(Williston) really played an awesome game,” Beck said. “They’re a really scrappy group, and we had to earn the win. We’ll definitely be excited to see them again.”

Messner led the way for the Majettes, totaling 16 kills and four aces on the night. Beck also made her presence known, totaling 10 kills.

The team seems to be finding its groove as they navigate uncharted waters. Only three players on the current roster were a part of last season’s team, and nobody is at the same position.

That inexperience showed when Minot lost its first three matches of the season-opening BPS Invitational on Friday, but the Majettes have since bounced back, stringing together five straight wins.

“This is a group of girls that really hasn’t played together much,” Carlson said. “Elements of trust, chemistry and unity are so important for a team. We really need time to bond, and that just comes with playing.”

The Majettes hope to keep their momentum going as they prepare for their upcoming road match against Mandan High School on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Braves enter the matchup fresh off the BPS Invitational as well, where they posted an impressive 6-1 record.

“(Mandan) is tough,” Carlson said. “We’re going to have to be willing to swing, take chances and serve with some intensity. It’s going to take a very aggressive game on our part to make it happen.”

Justin Martinez covers Minot High School and Class B high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @JTheSportsDude.