Box Score
MARSHALL, Minn. - In a battle of two top-15 nationally ranked teams, No. 15 Southwest Minnesota State got 15 kills from
Devin Diedrich and 39 assists from
Cara Carson to sweep No. 13 Minnesota State 3-0 (25-15 ,25-20, 25-18) Saturday afternoon in Marshall, Minn.
SMSU improves to 22-7 (12-5 NSIC), while MSU drops to 24-3 (14-3 NSIC).
The win marks the second consecutive week SMSU has defeated a higher nationally ranked team as the Mustangs swept then No. 11-ranked Minnesota Duluth 3-0 last Friday. The win also evens the season series between SMSU and MSU; the Mavericks were 3-2 winners earlier this season against the Mustangs in Mankato, Minn.
Diedrich's double-figure kill, .516 hitting percentage performance was indicative of SMSU's offensive campaign throughout. The Mustangs charted a scorching .352 hitting percentage en route to the win.
Carson directed the potent offense for the Mustangs, but she was effective at the net, too, as she recorded a career-high six blocks.
Crissi Schewe paired a match-high 14 digs with seven kills from her outside hitter spot.
Brittany Wenzel and
Kenzie Niesche finished with 10 and 12 digs, respectively.
The Mustangs fired off an efficient offensive performance to open the match, checking in with a .481 hitting percentage in the first set to to pull away for a double-figure victory.
And the machine-like show continued in the second set as the Mustangs smashed 20 kills on 44 swings with just a pair of errors.
Brooke Burmeister broke her squad away from a 15-15 tie with a pair of kills to spark a 5-1 Mustang run that gave the host team a decisive lead.
Behind the serving of Niesche in the third and final set, SMSU watched a two-point advantage grow as Carson and Diedrich blocked three straight in the closing points before Diedrich terminated a ball for match point.
The Mustangs were on a tear at the net, recording eight blocks to the Mavericks' three.
SMSU will host Minnesota, Crookston on Tuesday at 3 p.m. Senior members of the 2009 team will be recognized prior to the match.
