Box Score

MARSHALL, MINN.:  In a battle of two top-10 teams, Concordia-St. Paul showed why it is ranked No. 2 in the nation with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-10, 25-21) sweep of No. 8 Southwest Minnesota  State Tuesday night in Marshall.

Concordia-St. Paul improves to 15-1 (4-0, NSIC); SMSU drops to 13-2 (2-1, NSIC).

Concordia-St. Paul's Emily Paulkert had a match-high 16 kills and Maggie McNamara had a match-high 41 assists to lead the Golden Bears.

For the first time this season, SMSU did not have a single player in double digits in kills or digs.
Senior Laura Hegerle led SMSU's quiet offensive attack with eight kills, while Kasey Loeslie had just seven.

Senior Sarah Quiram led SMSU with nine digs, while junior Sara Graf finished the match with 24 assists.

SMSU opened the match on a 5-1 run, but that was the biggest lead the Mustangs would see all night  as the early start was immediately stifled by the Golden Bears.

The second set was all Concordia-St. Paul; SMSU came undone early in the set, and the Golden Bears to took full advantage of a slow defensive counter by the Mustangs by hitting a stellar .593 in the set.

SMSU made a run early in the third set, but the Mustangs could not get a step ahead of Concordia-St. Paul's powerful offensive attack.

Passing became the difference maker as SMSU struggled getting balls to its setter all night.

The Golden Bears hit .467 on the night to the Mustangs' .214.

SMSU is on the road this weekend when it travels to Northern State on Friday and the University of Mary on Saturday.  Both matches are conference contests.