Box score

MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University volleyball's win over the University of Mary Tuesday meant so many different things to the program.

First, it marked a sweep of the season series with a future Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference rival. Second, it pushed the Beavers back to .500 on the season and finally it gave first-year head coach Travis Ward his 100th career collegiate win.

The Beavers finished off the season sweep with a three-set sweep, although set scores of 25-23, 25-20, 25-20 proved the contest was definitely close.

Minot State pushed to 20 in each of the three sets before gaining a bit of breathing room in the final two sets. While the finals showed the Beavers were never dominate in any of the sets, MSU did hit an impressive .336 as a team, committing just 13 errors in 107 attacks.

The Marauders (2-24 overall) finished with just 11 errors total, but took 11 fewer attacks than MSU. Still, UMary finished with a solid .260 hitting percentage.

MSU (14-14) got a stellar match from sophomore Jen Dixon (OH, Brandon, Manitoba) as she swatted a match-high 22 kills to just six errors. She also finished with a team-high 10 digs.

Mary didn't have a player in double figures in kills as Allison Opp led the team with nine. Hailee Walsh finished with 18 assists to pace the Marauders, while Valerie Lesu finished with a match-high 17 digs.

The Beavers got seven kills each by middles Kelsey Wingo (Jr., Twain Harte, Calif.), Sara Friesen (So., Brandon, Manitoba) and Janice Reinbolt (Sr., Maple Creek, Saskatchewan). Emily Byrne (Fr., S, Reno, Nev.) paced the team with 40 assists and Jenna Moffatt (So., L, Brandon, Manitoba) and Brittney Thingstad (R-Fr., L, Velva, N.D.) added two services aces each to eight and seven digs respectively.

The Beavers have a chance to pull above .500 for the first time this season as they play host to Black Hills State Saturday at 7 p.m. in the season home finale.