ST. PAUL, Minn. -- It was a rough start for the 21st-ranked Nebraska Wesleyan University volleyball team at the season-opening Bethel University Invitational in Minnesota.

After dropping two matches on Friday, the Prairie Wolves looked to rebound on Saturday.  The opening match of the morning was very competitive as NWU and Wisconsin-Superior battled to five sets.

UW-Superior took the first two sets 25-21, 25-22 as NWU appeared to drop their third straight match in straight sets.  That was not the case as the Prairie Wolves battled back in the next two sets. The third set was dominated by NWU as they pounded out 16 kills with only four errors in a 25-12 victory.  It was more of the same in the fourth set with NWU once again pounded out 16 kills, compared to nine for UW-Superior in the 25-19 win.

In the fifth set, the two teams were tied at 7-7 before UW-Superior went on a 4-0 run which was too much to overcome.  The final score of the set was 15-10.

Malory Dahl led the Prairie Wolves with 17 kills and a .310 hitting percentage.  Mackenzie Allen had 13 kills with Karlie Bracht adding 11.  Hanna Ehmke dished out 28 assists, while Kenendy Hegert had 22 digs.

NWU closed the day with a match against the host school Bethel University.  Bethel came away with a 3-0 victory winning in scores of 25-18, 25-15, 25-14.

Malory Dahl led the way for NWU with 10 kills.  As a team, the Prairie Wolves hit just .019 with 25 kills and 23 digs.

NWU will return to action next weekend at the North Park Tournament in Chicago.