Duluth, Minn. --- The #12 Minnesota State volleyballers dropped a five-set thriller to the #2 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Saturday afternoon.

The Mavericks took the first set by a score of 25-22, but dropped the next two, 18-25 and 20-25. MSU then took the fourth set 25-15 to send the match to a fifth. The Mavericks and Bulldogs continued back-and-forth in the fifth set until the Bulldogs killed three attacks in a row for the 19-17 set win.

Senior outside hitter Amanda Beekman finished the contest with 20 kills, a team and season-best 20 kills. She used only 43 attempts to rack up her 20 kills, giving her a .419 hitting percentage. Sophomore outside hitter Chelsea Fogarty and senior right-side hitter

Kimber Kuhl also finished with double-digit kills, 13 and 12, respectively. Junior setter Brittany Stamer matched her season-best assist mark, earning 53.

Protecting the net was senior middle blocker Amanda Thompson, who tallied a season-best eight blocks; as a team, MSU tallied 12 blocks. Junior defensive specialist Alli Rice again led MSU with 17 digs, while Stamer racked up 16.

“I was a great match for the fans, players and fun to coach,” said head coach Dennis Amundson. “We’re certainly disappointed with the outcome, but our team is already looking forward to putting in a good week of practice and our next opponents.”

The Mavericks (10-3 overall, 2-3 NSIC) will return home for action next weekend with matches against Minnesota, Crookston and MSU Moorhead.