BOX SCORE

MANKATO, Minn. – After dropping the first set, No. 8 Southwest Minnesota State (8-2, 2-0 NSIC) rallied to defeat No. 15 Minnesota State University, Mankato (8-2, 1-1 NSIC) in four sets 20-25, 27-25, 25-14, 25-23 Saturday afternoon in Mankato, Minn.

SMSU sophomore outside hitter Rachel Westby delivered a career-high 15 kills, adding to Mary Groth's match-leading 24 kills, helping SMSU to a come-from-behind win on the Mavericks home court. Westby also led the Mustangs defense recording 19 digs in the match.

Southwest Minnesota State couldn't get its offense going in the first set tallying just 11 kills while committing nine errors. The two teams played a tight set for the majority of the first set. With the score tied 14-14, the Mavericks began to pull away to take the set 25-20.

The Mavericks held a slight lead over the Mustangs for the majority of the second set until Southwest Minnesota State was able to rally off three big runs to take the set, needing extra points, 27-25. Earlier in the set, Minnesota State went on two four-point runs to jump out to a 15-9 lead over the Mustangs.

With the score 24-21 in favor of Minnesota State, the Mustangs took seven out of the final eight points of the match with Brooke Burmeister providing the exclamation point giving SMSU a 27-25 second-set win. Burmeister finished the match with 15 kills and 15 digs, recording her fifth double-double of the season.

The Mustangs came out firing in the third set. With the score tied at 4-4, SMSU gained eight of the next nine points in the set to take a nine-point 15-6 lead. The Mavericks were never able to recover as the Mustangs went on to win the third set 25-14.

Cara Carson led all players in the match with 54 set assists. She set up the Mustang hitters to finish the match with a .242 attack percentage. Carson also recorded 14 digs in the match, notching her fourth double-double of the season.

After a dismal start with a .053 attack percentage in the first set, the Mustangs recovered in each set, accumulating a .321 attack percentage in the final set.

SMSU grabbed an early 8-2 lead in the fourth set, aided by four Westby kills. Minnesota State battled back to tie the set at 12, before taking a 21-20 lead. Westby and Groth led the final charge for the Mustangs, giving SMSU a 25-23 win in the final set.

Southwest Minnesota State will continue NSIC play on Tuesday, Sept. 20 traveling to St. Cloud State to take on the Huskies at Halenbeck Hall beginning at 7 p.m.