Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. – In a battle of two nationally ranked teams, No. 12 Southwest Minnesota State used a 18-kill performance from Devin Diedrich and a 52-assist outing by Sara Graf to top No. 10 Minnesota Duluth 3-1 (25-23, 25-27, 25-20, 25-23) Friday evening at the Radisson-Roseville/Concordia University Tournament in St. Paul, Minn.

SMSU moves to 8-2, while UMD drops to 6-3.

Diedrich keyed a three-way attack on behalf of the SMSU offense that also featured 15 kills from Tory Brouwer and 11 from Crissi Schewe.

Graf added three kills and seven digs to her 52-assist performance. Kenzie Niesche dug up a team-high 21 balls in the win.

SMSU trailed UMD early in the opening set by a minimal margin, but the Mustangs finally broke into the Bulldog lead at 21-20 after a Diedrich smash. Schewe did the honors of killing the final point to put her Mustangs up 1-0.

What happened late in the second set was the momentum shifter for the Bulldogs' lone set victory. As a 24-24 tie lit up the scoreboard, SMSU looked to have a sure kill from Brooke Burmeister to take a one-point advantage. Burmeister's swing looked to be tipped at the net, but the call was overturned and the freshman's attack was ruled no tip and consequently out. The shift put the Bulldogs up one, and they went on to win the set 27-25.

But the Mustangs would rally, putting together an 8-2 run to open the ensuing set. After a pair of Diedrich service aces that gave the Mustangs a 13-6 advantage, SMSU cruised to a 23-13 lead. The Bulldogs did manage to get within five points late, but a late service ace for set point by UMD's Rachel Jacobson silenced that comeback attempt.

After jumping out to a five-point lead in the fourth and final set, SMSU was forced to hold off a late Bulldog spurt that put UMD within two points at 25-23. Schewe again sent home the final kill.

UMD was tenacious at the net, recording 12 blocks to SMSU's three.  Both squads were fairly efficient with SMSU hitting .228 and UMD checking in with a .237 average.

Anna Zyvolski's 15 kills and Eleena Iisakka's 51 assists led the Bulldogs.

SMSU will play two matches tomorrow, the first against Augustana at 10 a.m. and the second against Dowling (N.Y.) at 7 p.m.