Mustangs Win Five Game Thriller in NCAA Regional

Box Score

DULUTH, MINN.: The No. 11 ranked Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs advance to the NCAA Regional Semifinal game with a 3-2 (30-25, 30-19, 20-30, 28-30, 15-9) win over No. 18 Minnesota State, Mankato on Thursday, Nov. 15 in Duluth, Minn.

SMSU jumped out to an early lead going up 2-0 but the Mavericks battled back winning games three and four. In game four, the Mustangs were up 28-23 before Minnesota State went on a 7-0 run to win and force a fifth game. In game five, SMSU compiled an early 4-0 lead and went on to win 15-9.

The Mustangs improve to 26-7 overall while the Mavericks end their season with a 19-9 record.

Southwest had a .242 team hitting percentage and were led by Leah Ashburn who had 22 kills while tallying four blocks (assisted). Freshman Krystal Schwanke had an outstanding game as she had a career-high17 kills and had a team-high .485 hitting percentage (17 kills, 1 error, 33 attempts).

Erin Contons had a double-double performance of 19 kills and 22 digs. Laura Hegerle was the fourth Mustang to record double-digit kills as she had 11 and recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 21 digs as well.

On defense the Mustangs had five players with double-digit digs. Leading the way was Sarah Quiram with 25. Other contributing defensively were Contons (22), Hegerle (21), and Lauren Swain with 11.

Setter Sara Graf led the team with 63 set assists. Tricia Ingvalson and Ashburn led the Mustangs with four block assists apiece.

Minnesota State, Mankato out-blocked SMSU 12-to-7 but the Mustangs held the Mavericks to a .199 team hitting percentage. The Mavericks were led by Amand Beekman who tallied 22 kills.

SMSU will advance to the NCAA North Central Regional Semi-final match which will take place tomorrow at 3 p.m. in Duluth, Minn. The Mustangs will face Concordia St. Paul.

Sara Graf	Laura Hegerle
Sarah Quiram	Mustangs celebrate after earning a point versus Minnesota State, Mankato

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