BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. - Junior middle blocker Devin Diedrich killed a career-high 28 in No. 6 Southwest Minnesota State's 3-0 sweep over Winona State. SMSU needed extra points twice but won the match 25-15, 29-27 and 26-24. The Mustangs went on to a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference win and improve to 19-3, 11-2 NSIC while Winona State falls to 9-12, 4-9 NSIC.

Southwest Minnesota State cruised to an early lead to start out the match gaining seven straight points behind the serve of Kenzie Niesche. Diedrich picked up three of her 28 kills during that stretch. Winona State would burn an early timeout only to have the Mustangs come back out and jump to a 10-3 lead.

With a 14-9 lead Southwest Minnesota State would pick up a six-point run and take a 20-9 lead over the visiting Warriors. The Mustangs would go on to with the set behind the strong performance of Diedrich who finished the first set with nine kills.

Winona State picked up its blocking game in the second and third sets forcing SMSU's Cara Carson to change her approach in setting up her hitters. Carson finished the match with 47 set assists while the Mustangs hit .250 as a team.

Southwest Minnesota State picked up nine blocks in the match. Brooke Burmeister led the way with two solo blocks while Rachel Westby and Mary Groth picked up one apiece. Groth finished the match with 12 kills and a .280 hitting percentage.

Kenzie Niesche led SMSU's defense picking up 20 digs. Westby and Brittany Wenzel both picked up nine digs for the Mustangs. Southwest Minnesota State finished the match with four service aces with Burmeister picking up two of her own.

Winona State came out in the second set and matched the Mustangs point-for-point. The second set saw 20 tie scores and nine lead changes. The Mustangs were able to come from behind needing extra points and win the second set on a kill by Westby.

Jessi Peterson led the Warriors with 12 kills and .435 hitting percentage. The Warriors picked up six team blocks in the match.

The Warriors came out of the break with a hot hand from the second set. Winona State jumped out to a 7-3 lead before the Mustangs started chipping away. Southwest Minnesota State was finally able to tie the score at 21-21 on an attack error by the Warriors. The Mustangs would need extra points but they took the third set 26-24.

Southwest Minnesota State will welcome Upper Iowa University for an NSIC match tomorrow afternoon. First serve is set for 3 p.m. at the PE Gym in Marshall.