Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SIOUX FALLS, S.D.– It was a back-and-forth kind of day for the Minot State University volleyball team.

The Beavers worked through their ups and downs on their way to a split in their two matches on the first day of the 2013 NSIC Challenge. MISU fell in four sets in their opening match to Northwest Missouri and then rebounded with a win in five sets against Missouri Western State.

The Tournament was hosted by NSIC schools Augustana College and University of Sioux Falls.

In set one of the first match, Minot State came out on fire and beat down the Bearcats 25-11. Things were looking good for the Beavers until mid-way through the second set when NMSU responded, winning the next three sets.

"We got at them in the first set," said MISU head coach Travis Ward. "They (Northwest Missouri) settled in the rest of the way and we didn't responded the way needed to. We did play hard in our fourth set and had a chance to push it a fifth set so I am really proud of that."

Jen Dixon (Jr., OH, Brandon, Manitboa), who sat out the 2012 with a foot injury, has impressed her teammates and coaches with her leadership while also being a key part of the Beaver offensive attack.

"Her leadership is really coming along," said Ward. "It doesn't show up on that state sheet but it's impressive. Kelsey (Kelsey Wingo, Sr., MH, Twain Harte, Calif.) has also worked her way back after a year off and has done with for us."

In the second match, the Beavers looked sluggish in the first two sets, but some timely play by Redshirt Frehsman Shaunessy Dauwalder (OH, Stanley, N.D.) helped MISU back the comeback to beat Missouri Western State in five sets.

"We got our butts kicked in the first two sets and we made a lineup change which turned things around for us," said Ward. "Shaunessy got her first kills of her collegiate career and she really earned her spot today and provided us with some great energy off the bench."

Mallory Sall (So., OH, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) and Dixon lead the Beavers in hitting, but Ward credits the entire squad of having a balanced attack.

"They definitely led the way for us," said Ward. "But really our whole team was working as a unit in those last three sets. We were getting production from every single position on the floor and as a coach, that makes things fun. Hopefully we can continue that into tomorrow."

Minot State (3-4 overall, 0-0 NSIC) will play two more matches Saturday in Sioux Falls. They will kick things off against Drury University at 11:30 a.m. and then finish the tournament against old Dakota Athletic Conference foe South Dakota School of Mines at 4:30 p.m.