BOX SCORE

DENVER, Colo. – No. 10 Southwest Minnesota State upset No. 2 University of Tampa in an exciting semi-final match of the Colorado Premier Challenge. The Mustangs are now 7-0 on the season, marking the best start in school history. SMSU won by scores of 25-21, 27-25, 18-25, 20-25 and 15-9. Tampa falls to a 5-2 record on the season.

The Mustangs advance to the championship game of the Colorado Premier Challenge and will play the winner of NSIC foes Wayne State (Neb.) and Concordia University, St. Paul at 8 p.m. CDT tonight.

Devin Diedrich and Mary Groth led the Mustangs this morning. Diedrich had 20 kills while Groth had 19 in SMSU's big win over the number two team in the country. Brooke Burmeister (12) and Abby Meyers (11) both recorded double-digits in kills as well.

Southwest Minnesota State and Tampa traded points in the first set. The set was tied at 8-8, SMSU went on to take a 10-8 lead on a block assist by Diedrich and Meyers followed by a kill from Burmeister. After the Mustangs took the lead they never lost it. Southwest Minnesota State took a 15-12 lead into the first timeout of the match. Groth came out ready to play in the first set recording 3 kills.

The two teams played a gritty first set challenging each other with every swing. Tampa fought back to make the score 21-19 in SMSU's favor. Burmeister set the Mustangs up for the first set victory with 4 kills and tough defense. The sophomore picked up five digs in set one. Southwest Minnesota State won the first set 25-21.

The Mustangs had five players with double-digits in digs this morning. Kenzie Niesche led the pack with 17. Not far behind her was Rachel Westby who had 14 digs.

The Mustangs jumped out to an early lead in the first set with a 7-5 lead. Tampa gained the next four points to take a 7-9 lead early in the second set. SMSU fired right back to a 10-10 tie, and then rallied off a five-point run of its own towards a lead of 13-10.

Tampa came right back and tied the set 19-19, eventually taking a one point lead. The Mustangs had the serve down 20-21 and eventually took a 22-21 lead. With the score tied 25-25 Groth powered a kill to give SMSU a 26-25 lead and the Mustangs went on to win the second set 27-25 on a hitting error by Tampa.

Southwest Minnesota State found themselves down 0-4 in the third set, and came all the way back to a 12-12 tie, then a 13-12 lead forcing Tampa into a timeout. The Mustangs eventually dropped the third set 18-25.

SMSU and Tampa continued to trade points in the fourth set. With the score tied 15-15, Diedrich came up with her 15th kill of the match to give SMSU a one point lead. SMSU fell in the fourth set by a score of 20-25.

Cara Carson tied her career high with 54 assists this morning. The Mustangs were out-blocked 16 to 8 by Tampa but came away with the huge win.

The Mustangs came out hard in the fifth set. Tomomi Sakurai came in to serve for SMSU and led the Mustangs to five straight points and a 7-2 lead. Groth and Meyers got up for a big block assist giving SMSU the five-point lead.

Southwest Minnesota State won the fifth and final set 15-9, in a down to the wire win over Tampa.

The Mustangs will play in the championship game of the Colorado Premier Challenge at 8 p.m. CDT tonight. They play the winner of the Wayne State (Neb.) and Concordia University, St. Paul match.