BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. – No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State scrapped out a four set win 25-12, 25-23, 21-25, 25-20 over Minnesota State University Moorhead in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference volleyball action on Tuesday night in Marshall. Alyssa Taylor led all players with a career-high 21 kills, and finished with four block assists leading SMSU in that category as well.

SMSU improves to 19-6 overall on the season, including 13-3 in NSIC play while the Dragons fall to 11-12, 9-7 NSIC. Southwest Minnesota State is also ranked sixth in the Central Region rankings.

With the win, Mustang head coach Terry Culhane won his 200th career match as a collegiate head coach, all of them at Southwest Minnesota State. Culhane ranks third all-time at SMSU with a career record of 200-59 in eight seasons.

Rachel Westby helped SMSU to 101 total digs, its second highest digs total on the season, on the night matching her career-high with 24 digs. Westby added 10 kills recoding her sixth double-double of the season. She was one of four to reach double-digits in digs. Kenzie Niesche added 21 digs for the Mustangs.

Mary Groth finished with 18 kills and Brooke Burmeister added 17 kills and 15 digs for her 12th double-double of the season. Cara Carson finished with a season-high 62 set assists while picking up 14 digs for SMSU.

Taylor sparked the Mustangs fast start in the first set coming up with four consecutive kills helping the Mustangs take an 11-5 lead. Taylor finished the first set with seven kills. SMSU was able to pull away with the set going on a six-point run to win the first 25-12.

MSU Moorhead grabbed an early lead in the second set eventually taking an 11-8 lead over SMSU. The Mustangs called a timeout to re-group and was able to grab nine out of 11 points to take a three-point 18-15 lead. SMSU would not lose the lead again in the set going on to win 25-23.

The third set saw 10 tie scores and four lead changes as the Dragons went on to win the set 25-21 over SMSU. Heidi Lensing led the Dragons on the night with 12 kills. Katy Ness was tough in the back row accounting for 27 digs.

After giving up the first point in the fourth set, the Mustangs were able to go on a seven-point run to take a 7-1 lead after two consecutive kills by Burmeister.

MSU Moorhead battled back to take five of the next seven points bring the score to 9-6 in favor of SMSU. Burmeister came up big for SMSU in the final set picking up six of her 17 kills in the fourth. The Mustangs would go on to win the fourth set 25-20 and take the match 3-1.

Southwest Minnesota State continues its homestand on Friday hosting the University of Mary in a “Red Out” match beginning at 7 p.m. in the PE Gym. The SMSU volleyball team has teamed up with 105.1 KARL Country Radio in Marshall for a “Red Out” event to benefit and promote awareness for heart disease among women.

SMSU will then conclude its regular season home schedule on Saturday hosting Northern State at 4:30 p.m. Saturday is also senior day for SMSU volleyball.