BOX SCORE

BISMARCK, N.D. – Mary Groth had 13 kills and Brooke Burmeister had 12 to lead No. 5 Southwest Minnesota State to an NSIC win over the University of Mary 25-13, 25-21 and 25-18. The Mustangs improve to 23-3 overall and 15-2 in conference play while U-Mary falls to 6-11, 1-16 NSIC.

Groth and Burmeister set the tone early and helped the Mustangs cruise to a three-set win over U-Mary. Groth finished with match-high 13 kills and a .360 hitting percentage. Groth also helped the cause with two block assists. Burmeister finished with 12 kills, one assists, four digs and a .346 hitting percentage. 

The Mustangs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first set, and never lost it. After a brief ties at 2-2 and 6-6, the Mustangs would cruise to a 25-13 first set win. Southwest Minnesota State hit .394 as a team in the first set compared to U-Mary's .028. Burmeister fired five kills in the first set. Devin Diedrich and Groth followed that performance with three kills each.

Diedrich finished the match with nine kills, three digs and one assist. Cara Carson led the Mustangs with 39 set assists. Carson also pitched in two kills and five digs for SMSU.

The second set offered just the opposite for the Mustangs. Southwest Minnesota State trailed almost the entire second set after a 1-1 tie. The Mustangs never gave up eventually tying the score 18-18 on a service ace by freshman Rachel Westby. Westby finished with one service ace and 10 digs.

Kenzie Niesche led the Mustangs back row with 14 digs. She also added two service aces.

Despite giving up the lead the Marauders wouldn't go away without a fight coming back to within one point of the Mustangs forcing Terry Culhane to take a time out at 22-21 SMSU. Burmeister put an end to the second set with her team-leading ninth kill of the match.

The two teams traded points early in the first set until the Mustangs went on a seven point run, six behind the serve of Tomomi Sakurai giving the Mustangs a 13-9 lead. Burmeister and Groth would each add a kill on the way towards a 25-18 third set win for SMSU. 

Southwest Minnesota State will continue NSIC play tomorrow evening when they take on Northern State at 5 p.m. in Aberdeen, S.D.