Box Score

MOORHEAD, Minn. - Mary Groth tallied a match-high 15 kills and Cara Carson recorded a match-high 40 assists to lead No. 14 Southwest Minnesota State to a 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-20) conference victory over Minnesota State Moorhead Friday night in Moorhead, Minn.

The win, which was SMSU's fourth straight NSIC victory, improves the Mustangs to 15-5 (4-3 NSIC); MSUM drops to 13-6 (3-3 NSIC).

Groth and fellow middle blocker Devin Diedrich were an offensive force for the Mustangs.  Diedrich finished with 11 kills on the evening.

Carson's 40-assist performance marks the fourth straight match the sophomore has compiled at least 34 assists.

Kenzie Niesche and Crissi Schewe anchored a solid SMSU defensive effort with 14 digs each.

SMSU broke away from a 6-6 tie in the opening set and built and maintained a 12-point lead to cruise to the set victory. 

In the second set, the Dragons played the Mustangs to a 12-12 tie, but a block from Diedrich and Tory Brouwer on the ensuing point was the momentum shifter.  SMSU worked to stretch that advantage to as many as eight at 23-15 when Groth smashed one home.  Another kill from Groth and one from Diedrich closed the set.

Twenty kills from the Mustangs in the third and final set was too much for the Dragons.  MSUM made a surge late to within three, but Groth and Brouwer keyed a final spurt by the Mustangs to secure the set and match win.

MSUM's offense struggled throughout, managing just a .093 hitting percentage.  SMSU countered with a .250 outing that saw them outkill the Dragons 46-27.

SMSU finishes up this weekend road set tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Minnesota, Crookston.