Box Score
MARSHALL, MINN - Laura Hegerle had a match-high 12 kills and
Sara Graf dished out 41 assists in just three sets of play as No. 8 Southwest Minnesota State defeated Northern State 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 26-24) in its final regular-season match of the season Saturday afternoon in Marshall.
SMSU improves to 27-5 (16-4, NSIC) with the win, while NSU drops to 15-15 (6-14, NSIC).
Playing in her last regular season match as a Mustang, Hegerle led a solid offensive attack for her squad. Fellow senior
Kasey Loeslie finished the match with nine, and a surprise hitting performance from freshman
Cara Carson rounded out a three-way attack for SMSU that NSU had no counter for. Carson had a career-high 11 kills.
Also playing in her last regular-season match at SMSU,
Sarah Quiram settled into a place she has been the mainstay in all season--the defensive leader. The senior had a match-high 10 digs to go along with a pair of service aces.
SMSU dominated by way of serving in the first set, as Hegerle put together a string of eight straight points to build the Mustangs a comfortable lead. That run paired with a three-kill output by the Wolves propelled SMSU to a ten decisive 10-point advantage.
The Wolves, still struggling to create an offensive burst, were only able to send home eight balls in the second set, and SMSU took advantage. Hitting an impressive .355 in the set, the Mustangs took a lead at 7-6 and never looked back.
NSU opened the third and final set with a bit more fire, taking a five point lead at 12-8. After SMSU closed that gap, the two teams were within one point of each other until the Mustangs were able to take a 25-24 lead off a Loeslie kill. NSU's Kayla Ysteboe misread an attack on the ensuing point, and SMSU took the match.
Jill Rasumussen was the long NSU spiker in double digits as she finished with 10.
SMSU now waits to be seeded in the NCAA tournament. Who and when the Mustangs will play in the postseason is announced at 8 p.m. tomorrow. Check back at www.SMSUmustangs.com for pairings.
