BOX SCORE

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – No. 6 Southwest Minnesota State picked up a hard-fought NSIC road win against Augustana College. It took five sets for the Mustangs to take down the Vikings. SMSU won by scores of 25-21, 27-29, 22-25, 25-20 and 15-3. The Mustangs improve to 18-3, 10-2 NSIC while the Vikings fall to 10-11, 6-6 NSIC.

Devin Diedrich led the offensive attack for the Mustangs. The junior picked up 21 kills in the match. Brigetta Berg notched a career-high nine kills in the win over Augustana.

The Mustangs started out with a hot hand picking up a five point lead over the Vikings. Augustana errors set the Mustangs up with a 6-1 lead early in the first set. The Mustangs would hold the lead up until Augustana tied the set at 11. From that point on the two teams traded points but the Mustangs never lost the lead.

Mary Groth picked up 15 kills and a .281 hitting percentage. Cara Carson set up the Mustang hitters with 55 assists. SMSU hit .253 as a team behind Carson. The Mustangs improved their hitting throughout the match. Southwest Minnesota State was hitting an uncharacteristic .160 after the third set.

Burmeister and Groth led the Mustangs with four kills apiece in the first set. The Vikings fought back to within one at 21-20 forcing Terry Culhane to take a timeout. The Mustangs came out to take the next three points. Diedrich ended the first set with her third kill on the night. The first set saw six tie scores and two lead changes.

Kenzie Niesche led a pack of Mustangs who had double-digits in digs. Niesche finished the match with 24 digs for SMSU. Brooke Burmesiter picked up a double-double for SMSU recording 10 kills and 12 digs in the match.

Southwest Minnesota State grabbed another early lead in the second set. Behind the serve of Niesche SMSU jumped out to another 6-1 lead. The lead grew even bigger after consecutive kills by Burmeister and Diedrich forcing Augustana into a timeout at 9-2 in favor of the Mustangs.

The Vikings wouldn't go away in the second fighting all the way back to tie the score at 13-13. Augustana would eventually take a 19-17 lead over SMSU. Out of the timeout a point-for-point rally would ensue. The two teams traded points the remainder of the second set with Augustana eventually needing extra points to win the set 29-27 and tie the match.

The Mustangs trailed the entire third set. SMSU kept creeping closer to tying the set forcing both teams to take timeouts to talk strategy. The Mustangs picked up three straight points to come within three points at 18-21. Augustana would go on to win the third set 25-22.

The Mustangs and the Vikings were no more than a couple points within reach of the lead for most of the fourth set. Southwest Minnesota State use a four and a three point run to gain a 22-18 lead over the host Vikings.
 
SMSU got a huge block assist from Carson and Diedrich to put the Mustangs ahead with set point. Diedrich eventually won the fourth set for SMSU with her 19th kill of the match. SMSU forced a fifth set with a 25-20 fourth set victory. The Mustangs finished the match with a season-high 14 blocks.

Southwest Minnesota State came out firing in the fifth set. The Mustangs jumped out to a 9-1 lead over the Vikings after taking six straight points. Carson and Diedrich came up with a huge block assist to give the Mustangs match point. Diedrich ended the match with her 21st kill of the match.

The Mustangs will head back home for a two-game home stand this weekend. SMSU will host Winona State on Friday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. Saturday SMSU welcomes Upper Iowa for another NSIC tilt. First serve is set for 3 p.m.