BOX SCORE

FAYETTE, Iowa – The No. 5 Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team opened the 2010 NSIC season tonight with a 3-0 sweep over Upper Iowa. The Mustangs won by scores of 25-19, 25-15 and 29-27. SMSU improves to 8-1, 1-0 NSIC while Upper Iowa drops to 2-7, 0-1 NSIC.

The Mustangs were led by Brooke Burmeister and Mary Groth who both recorded 14 kills for SMSU. Burmeister had 14 kills in 27 attempts for a .481 hitting percentage. The sophomore continues to swing efficiently while coming in just shy of her career-high of .500 percent. She also led the Mustangs with 16 digs tonight.

Cara Carson put up 42 assists in the match. She adds to her NCAA Division II lead of 399 assists this season. Carson has averaged 11.90 assists per set this season.

The Mustangs and the Peacocks traded points throughout the first set until Southwest Minnesota State jumped ahead 22-19 on a kill by Burmeister. Freshman Rachel Westby ended the first set with one of her four kills on the evening.

Kenzie Niesche, Burmeister and Carson each had double-digits in digs tonight.

The Mustangs went on a seven point run against the Peacocks in the second set. With the score at 12-9 in SMSU's favor the Mustangs reeled off seven straight points to take a 19-9 lead. Burmeister had four kills in the run.

As a team the Mustangs were 15 of 34 hitting in the second set for a .382 hitting percentage. Southwest Minnesota State also had nine team blocks. Devin Diedrich had four solo blocks for the Mustangs tonight. Groth assisted on four blocks and Burmeister assisted on two.

The Peacocks did not give up without a fight. The two teams went back-and-forth in the final set but SMSU came out on top 28-26.

Southwest Minnesota State is now 8-1, and 1-0 in the NSIC. The Mustangs will host Minnesota State University, Mankato in an NSIC match-up on Sept. 18 at 3 p.m. at the P.E. Complex.