BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. – No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State freshman middle blocker Alyssa Taylor drilled a career-high 15 kills to go along with a career-high .778 attack percentage leading the Mustangs to a sweep over No. 19-ranked Minnesota State University, Mankato on Saturday afternoon in Marshall. SMSU improves to 18-6 on the season, including 12-3 in the NSIC. Minnesota State falls to 15-8, 8-7 in the NSIC.

Both teams are ranked in the top 10 in the Central Region rankings. SMSU debuted at sixth while MSU was ranked seventh in the first edition of the regional rankings.

Taylor committed just one error in 18 attack attempts in the match. She also added a solo and a block assist in the match. Brooke Burmeister and Rachel Westby also reached double-digits in kills for SMSU. Westby finished with 11 kills and nine digs while Burmeister added 12 kills and six digs.

The Mustangs were all over the Mavericks in the first set setting the tone for the match with a 25-9 first set win. With a 7-3 lead, Burmeister served the Mustangs to 10 consecutive points giving SMSU a 15-point lead 18-3. Taylor finished the first set with seven kills. Five of her seven came during SMSU's 10-point run.

Southwest Minnesota State kept the pressure on in the second set behind steady offensive play. The Mustangs finished the match with a .420 attack percentage, committing just 10 errors in the match.

Taylor, Groth and Burmeister each had four kills in the second set helping the Mustangs to a .467 attack percentage. The Mustangs trailed just once in the entire match, which came early in the second set when the Mavericks took a 1-0 lead. The Mustangs were able to storm back to take a 10-point 20-10 lead over MSU.

The Mavericks would take four out of six points late in the second set but the Mustangs were able to shut the door and with the set 25-15 on a kill by Westby.

The Mustangs finished with 36 digs in the match, led by Kenzie Niesche who finished with 10. Cara Carson steered the Mustangs offense picking up 42 set assists.

The Mustangs were able to grab another early lead in the final set helping the Mustangs keep the momentum in a much closer contested set. After leading 9-3, the Mavericks took six of the next nine points to come within four points at 11-7.

The Mavericks continued to press the Mustangs coming within two points at 22-20, but SMSU was able to finish off the match taking the third set 25-22.

Southwest Minnesota State continues its four-match homestand on Tuesday, Nov. 1, hosting MSU Moorhead at 7 p.m. at the PE Gym.