MINOT, N.D. – On a night filled with bittersweet emotions, the Minot State volleyball team ended their season the best they could with a 3-1 win over Winona State, sending seniors Jen Dixon (OH, Brandon, Manitoba) and Emily Byrne (S, Reno, Nev.) off on a high note.

"I have no words," Dixon said. "That was the perfect way to go out. We played so good and it was so fun. No regrets after that one. That was awesome."

Byrne's thoughts were very similar.

"That was pretty amazing," Byrne said. "Probably the best volleyball we've ever played as a team and it was just so awesome to go out like that. I don't think I could've wanted it to end any better. I'm so proud of my team and the way that they played for us. It's just great."


While the Beavers ended up with the win, it didn't come easily, as the Warriors are currently in the No. 5 spot in the NSIC. The first set went back and forth for much of the set, but the Beavers were able to take the first one courtesy of a four-point run when the game was tied at 21-21. Shaunessy Dauwalder (So., OH, Stanley, N.D.) led the way with three kills in the set.

It looked as if Winona would roll to a second set win after getting out to an early 7-1 lead, but the Beavers quickly fought their way back into the set taking the lead at 9-8. After the Beaver held a 12-11 lead, the Warriors took five of the next six points and never trailed the rest of the set as they went on to win 25-22.

Another competitive set was made out of the third set but a three-point run and a four-point run late in the set gave the Beavers a 2-1 lead heading into the fourth and final set.

The Beavers got out to an early 7-2 lead, and despite some good rallies falling Winona's way, Mallory Sall (Jr., OH, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) was able to record the final kill of the match and season for the Beavers.

Dixon and Byrne ended their careers for Minot State with strong performances. Dixon recorded 13 kills on a .263 hitting percentage and also had a team-high 21 digs. Byrne recorded 53 assists and had the second-most digs on the team with 19.

With her 13 kills tonight, Dixon ends her career with 1,630 kills and as the all-time kills leader in Minot State volleyball history. Byrne, who is the all-time leader in assists at Minot State, ends her career with 4,315 assists.

While the team will look to build off their 10th place finish in the NSIC this season as they go forward into their offseason and next season, head coach Travis Ward said it won't be the same without Dixon and Byrne around.

"It's been such a memorable experience with both of them," Ward said. "It's going to be weird to think that they're done now—that Jen's wrapped up and Em's wrapped up. They've been the foundation of our program since the day that they got here and I'm pumped to have been a part of their life."

With the win, the Beavers end their season with an overall record of 11-18 and a conference record of 8-12. Minot State won six straight home games to end the season.