BOX SCORE

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Brooke Burmeister's 20 kills led No. 6 Southwest Minnesota State (1-0) to a season-opening sweep (25-21, 25-16, 25-20) over No. 25 Northern Michigan (0-1) in the Wildwood Lodge Volleyball Classic hosted by Concordia-St. Paul on Friday morning.

Southwest Minnesota State has now won nine consecutive season-opening games dating back to 2002.

Burmeister had six kills in the first and second sets, followed by eight kills in the third set to lead the Mustangs over the Wildcats. Sophomore Rachel Westby tied her career-high with eight kills and Mary Groth finished with 10 kills adding to SMSU's offensive attack.

Westby also had 16 digs in the match with a .467 attack percentage. Senior setter Cara Carson finished the match with 39 set assists.

SMSU went on an early five-point run taking a 6-2 lead over the Wildcats but Northern Michigan rebounded with a five-point run of its own taking a 7-6 lead. The two teams traded blows while the Mustangs would eventually pull ahead taking a 17-14 lead on an attack error by the Wildcats.

Burmeister and Westby paced the Mustangs in the first set each picking up six kills. Westby ended the opening set with her sixth kill of the match giving SMSU a 25-21 win. SMSU fought around a tough NMU block to earn its first set win. The Wildcats had four team blocks in the first set.

Westby served SMSU to four straight points early in the second set helped by the block of the Mustangs. Mary Groth paired up with Burmeister and Carson for two block assists helping push SMSU's lead to 6-2. Groth finished the match with four block assists.

Brittany Wenzel took a turn at the serve and led SMSU to another four straight points and an 11-4 lead. SMSU was helped by a .379 attack percentage in the second set, improving from .182 in the first set.

Freshmen Alyssa Taylor and Rachel Hackenmueller saw their first action for the Brown and Gold. The freshman duo each finished the match with four kills.

Groth paced the Mustangs to begin the third set picking up two consecutive kills to even the score at two. It was Burmeister's strong arm that led the Mustangs in the final set. The junior outside hitter picked up eight of her 20 kills in the final set.

Northern Michigan finished the match with six team blocks while the Mustangs picked up four of their own. SMSU compiled a .270 hitting percentage in the match while the Wildcats hit just .157 as a team.

Southwest Minnesota State will continue play in the Wildwood Lodge Classic with a familiar opponent in NSIC foe No. 9 Wayne State (Neb.) beginning at 5 p.m. Friday.