BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. – No. 7 Southwest Minnesota State used a season-high 16 blocks and a .336 team attack percentage to defeat Bemidji State University 25-4, 25-15, 20-25, 25-19 on Saturday afternoon in Marshall. SMSU improves to 10-3 on the season, including 4-1 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play while the Beavers fall to 4-10, 1-5 NSIC.

The Mustangs came out firing on all cylinders in the first set scoring 13 straight points taking a 22-3 lead, that included five kills from junior outside hitter Brooke Burmeister. Burmeister finished the match with 16 kills and nine digs.

Mary Groth led all players in the match with 17 kills, while freshman middle Alyssa Taylor was the only other Mustang in double-digits in kills with 10.

It was SMSU's block that helped keep the momentum on the Mustangs' side. Within the 16 team blocks, Taylor had five block assists, while Groth had one solo and nine block assists and setter Cara Carson pitched in with seven block assists of her own.

Carson added 47 set assists in the match, setting up SMSU's .336 attack percentage. As a team, the Mustangs' hit .441 in a 25-15 second set win, but a third set attack percentage of .111 helped the Beavers gain some momentum and ultimately win the third set.

After dropping the third set 20-25, the Mustangs fired back allowing only two tie scores in the final set winning it 25-19.

Southwest Minnesota State will take a brief break from Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Tuesday, Sept. 27, taking on Concordia University, St. Paul in a non-conference match at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul. First serve is set for 7 p.m.