BOX SCORE

ST. PAUL, Minn. – No. 6 Southwest Minnesota State could not find its rhythm against No. 1 Concordia University, St. Paul falling 18-25, 18-25, 14-25 in a non-conference match on Tuesday night in St. Paul, Minn. SMSU committed 23 attack errors and eight service errors in the match allowing the Golden Bears too many free points.

SMSU falls to 10-4 on the season, while the Golden Bears improve to 14-0. This is the second straight season that SMSU and CU have played a non-conference match. Last season, the Mustangs defeated the Golden Bears 3-1 in Marshall.

The Mustangs finished the match with a .125 attack percentage, while the Golden Bears hit .309 as a team, committing just 10 attack errors and two service errors.

Brooke Burmeister led all players with 13 kills. Rachel Westby added eight kills in the match for SMSU while Mary Groth and Alyssa Taylor each added six.

Kayla Koenecke led the Golden Bears with 11 kills and 11 digs, hitting at a .625 clip in the match. Megan Carlson added nine kills and 14 digs for the Golden Bears. 

The Golden Bears overwhelmed the Mustangs early in the first set, jumping out to a 9-3 lead, and leading the entire set. SMSU gained some momentum during a four-point rally. The Mustangs were able to bring the score within two at 8-10 on back-to-back kills by Westby and Taylor.

Another slow start in the second set for the Mustangs allowed the Golden Bears to go on to a set two win. Concordia-St. Paul forced an early timeout in the second set taking a 4-0 lead. The timeout allowed the Mustangs to regain some momentum heading into a six-point swing.

Burmeister served the Mustangs to six consecutive points and a one-point 10-9 lead. Taylor came up with two big kills during the stretch helping SMSU get back into the set. The Golden Bears were able to rebound with a five-point run of their own to take a 20-17 lead in the second set.

The errors began to pile up on SMSU and would eventually doom the Mustangs. SMSU had 12 combined service and attack errors in the second set.

The third set appeared to be a back-and-forth affair before the Golden Bears reeled off eight consecutive points that included three SMSU errors.

The Mustangs were able to bring the third set within four points before the Golden Bears pulled away with the set and the match.

Southwest Minnesota State will return to NSIC action on Friday traveling to Moorhead, Minn. to take on MSU Moorhead at 7 p.m. before taking on Minnesota, Crookston at 5 p.m. on Saturday in Crookston, Minn.  


Highlights courtesy of Concordia Television Productions