Minot State sweeps Dickinson State

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Press Photo by Royal McGregor Dickinson State sophomore outside hitter Chelsey Schwindt, center, splits two Minot State defenders Kelsey Wingo, left, and Janice Rose Reinbolt, right, in the second set Saturday at Scott Gymnasium. The Beavers swept the Blue Hawks in nonconference play.

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The Dickinson State volleyball team showed signs of potential growth, but in the end the Blue Hawks remain winless in the season.

Minot State was led by two young outside hitters defeating the nonconference opponent Blue Hawks 25-17, 25-17, 25-14 on Saturday at Scott Gymnasium.

“I think we are learning to be a patient team,” MSU head coach Travis Ward said. “As far as the decision that we make and finding out where we can make runs. I think we were happy with the consistency.”

The confidence that DSU (0-14) needs could be found in the bright spots from one match to another. Though getting a win would be ultimate spark, Bonte-Pfeifer said the little victories help.

“Getting our first win would really spark our confidence,” Dickinson State head coach Maura Bronte-Pfeifer said. “We are focusing on the little matches between sets to maybe spark something.”

The signs of improvement happened in the second set as the Blue Hawks were trailing MSU by two points for a majority of the set. The true sign needs to be the consistency throughout each set.

“When we are on, we’re on,” Bronte-Pfeifer said. “When we are off, we’re pretty off.”

Nonetheless, Bronte-Pfeifer said the team’s mentality to overcome opponent’s long runs just isn’t there.

“There is definitely a maturity level issue that we are working on,” she said. “We’re definitely not strong enough right now to fight through those runs.”

MSU’s (4-6) two young leaders were sophomore Jen Dixon with 14 kills and freshman Jaylene Koski with 13.

“We have freshman and sophomore outside hitters, so we are really young there,” Ward said. “That’s probably the best performance by Koski this year.”

Though Dixon and Koski might be underclassmen, Ward said the progression from the two had been outstanding.

“We build our system on principles and our programs on principles,” Ward said. “It takes time for people to understand those and be comfortable playing in that.

“The players are starting to feel how much freedom there is in our principles.”

Sarah Zeibig led DSU with five kills, while Brianny Williams and Jennifer Hartman each followed with four.

“It was definitely not our best attacking,” Bonte-Pfeifer said. “We didn’t have our best court vision throughout the game.”

DSU will try to rebound hosting Dakota Athletic Conference opponent Mayville State on Friday.

MSU 25 25 25 — 3

DSU 17 17 14 — 0

Kills: MSU, Jen Dixon 14, Jaylene Koski 13. DSU, Sarah Zeibig 5, Brianny Williams 4, Jennifer Hartman 4.

Digs: MSU, Jenna Moffatt 17. DSU, Katelyn Christensen 7.

Assists: MSU, Emily Byrne 35.

Records: MSU 4-6. DSU 0-14.

Tags: dsu athletics, sports, volleyball