BOX SCORE

ABERDEEN, S.D.- The no. 5 Southwest Minnesota State volleyball needed just three straight sets to defeat Northern State 25-19, 25-20, 25-19 this afternoon in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action.

SMSU improves to 24-3 (16-2 NSIC), while Northern moves to 14-13 (6-12 NSIC).

The Mustangs were led by Mary Groth with a match-high 19 kills and seven blocks. Devin Diedrich followed with 13 kills and three digs.

SMSU and NSU traded points back and forth until the 21-18 mark when Rachel Westby delivered two services aces followed by a block from Cara Carson and Groth to make the score 24-19. Northern gained one more kill before the Mustangs took the set on a kill from Groth.

SMSU jumped out to a 3-0 lead to begin the second set before Northern bounced back to a 10-7 lead over the Mustangs. SMSU battled to 19-19 when Brooke Burmeister earned a kill followed by two NSU kill errors to give the Mustangs a 23-19 lead which they extended to 25-20.

The score was tied at ten in the third set before SMSU pulled away on a kill from Groth who finished the set with six kills including the match-winning kill to give the Mustangs a 25-19 win.

Setter Cara Carson led the match with 42 assists, 11 digs, and four blocks.

SMSU will return home this weekend to take on no. 2 Minnesota-Duluth on Friday at 7 p.m. , and Bemidji State Saturday at 4 p.m.