MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State University volleyball team fell in three sets (17-25, 11-25, 15-25) to Sioux Falls on Friday evening.
 
The Beavers challenged the Cougars in set one, but ultimately failed to hold on.
 
"Today we came out and hesitated on a lot of stuff," head coach Ben Kaszeta said. "They definitely put extra pressure on us, I don't want to take anything away from them. They have three really athletic kids that bring it."
 
Coach Kaszeta knows his team has the ability to win matches like this, but thinks there might be something missing mentally.
 
"We just don't have that confidence right now," Kaszeta said. "It's not because we're not good enough, it's because we don't think that we're supposed to win some of those. We have to learn how to stick our chin out and be more aggressive. As long as we keep working and focus on the process and not the result we can get there. We have to focus on the process and learn to win every day. If we can learn how to do that in practice it will come."
 
Things in practice worked for at least one Beaver today as Hayley Swain landed four of her six attempted attacks.
 
"She was a little passive in our previous game against Mary," Kaszeta said. "We have been challenging her in the last couple of practices and going harder. She's responded well to that."
 
Shelby Spuller led the Beavers with five kills while Cindy Pelo led with 15 digs. Janelle Nagy and Kelsey Dewulf each helped the offense with 11 assists each.
 
Minot State will play Southwest Minnesota State in the MSU Dome tomorrow, September 24 at 3 p.m.
 
About Minot State
Minot State University is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and NCAA Division II offering 14 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletics programs. The NSIC is a premier NCAA DII, 16-member conference featuring teams in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. The Beavers are the only public NCAA Division II institution in the state of North Dakota.