Box Score

DENVER, Colo. - Devin Diedrich smashed a career-high 20 kills to lead No. 8 Southwest Minnesota State to a 3-1 (22-25, 25-16, 25-18 25-16) win over host Regis (Colo.) Friday evening at the Colorado Premier Challenge in Denver, Colo.

SMSU improves to 5-1, while RU drops to 2-4.

Diedrich was part one of a dual offensive attack for the Mustangs; part two came from fellow middle Mary Groth, who finished with 13 kills of her own.

Sara Graf directed an organized SMSU offense and recorded 41 assists.  She also notched seven kills in just nine tries  from her setter position.

Just as a two-way performance emerged on the offensive end, so did one on the defensive side.  Kenzie Niesche and Crissi Schewe each had 17 kills in the victory.

The host Rangers looked to have an upset in the making in the opening set, holding off the nationally ranked Mustangs late and pulling of a three-point set victory.  After a 19-19, RU used a pair of service aces to pull ahead for good.

But SMSU rebounded, taking a seven-point lead midway through the ensuing set behind the serving of Diedrich, who put together a five-point run for the Mustangs.  That lead would only grow as SMSU surged ahead by nine to close the set.

Never trailing in the third set, SMSU held a comfortable grasp on momentum well into the fourth and final set to clinch the victory.

Solid play at the net by SMSU accounted for a .090 RU hitting performance.

SMSU aced six balls in the win and recorded four blocks--two more than the Mustangs did in their previous match against No. 15 West Florida.

The Mustangs, runners-up in the Regis pool, will play West Texas A&M tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. local time (10:30 a.m. CST).