BOX SCORE

GOLDEN, Colo. - The No. 15-ranked Southwest Minnesota State picked up a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Regis University (Colo.) on Friday night at the Colorado School Mines Classic in Golden, Colo.

SMSU won the match by scores of 21-25, 28-26, 25-22, 19-25 and 15-11.

SMSU is now 2-0 on the season, while Regis falls to 0-2.

Brooke Burmeister had a huge game for SMSU coming up with big kill after big kill. The sophomore hitter finished the match with 13 kills. Devin Diedrich also put up big numbers for the Mustangs recording 23 kills--one shy of her career high--and hitting at .365 percent. Sophomore Mary Groth also hit the double-digit mark with 17 kills in 41 attempts and a .244 hitting percentage. Groth also was one kill shy of her career high.

In the first set, a set in which SMSU lost, the Mustangs and the Rangers went back and forth scoring point after point. SMSU was down 18-19 when head coach Terry Culhane called a timeout in an attempt to rally the troops. SMSU and Regis continued to trade points and the Mustangs eventually dropped the first set 21-25.

The Mustangs had a tough time getting past the Regis block at the start of the second set. SMSU was down 5-10 heading into its first timeout of the second set. Burmeister carried SMSU on her shoulders coming up with two consecutive kills to put the Mustangs up 10-7 and the momentum shifted in favor of SMSU.

Regis then called a timeout of its own with the Mustangs leading 20-19. Right off of the timeout Diedrich and Burmeister came up with a huge block assist. The two teams traded points for the remainder of the set while the Mustangs were able to strike the big comeback winning the second set 28-26.

The Mustangs once again found themselves behind in the score deep into the third set. And once again Burmeister provided the Mustangs with high-energy play keeping SMSU close with big kills. With the score tied 23-23 Diedrich and Abby Meyers teamed-up for another big block assist to put the Mustangs one point away from set point. Burmeister ended the set with another kill to give the Mustangs a 25-23 win in set three.

Cara Carson was setting up the Mustang hitters all over the court tonight. In doing so, Carson set a new career high with 54 assists in tonight's match. She broke her old career high of 48, which she was able to accomplish twice.

The Regis offensive attack kept the Mustang defenders busy all night. SMSU had five players with 11 or more digs. Kenzie Niesche led the Mustangs with 22 digs, she was followed by freshman Rachel Westby who notched a career high 19 digs. Brittany Wenzel, Burmeister and Carson all finished with 11 digs.

SMSU came out strong in the fifth and final set of the match getting a quick lead. The Mustangs led 7-2 at one point in the set. The SMSU hitters were swinging hard and eventually got the Mustangs a 13-7 lead in set number five. SMSU went on to win the set on a powerful kill by Diedrich 15-11.

The Mustangs continue play in the CSM Classic tomorrow at 1 p.m. against Mesa State (Colo.) and will conclude the tournament with host Colorado School of Mines at 7:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time.