BOX SCORE

ST. PAUL, Minn. – After losing the first set, No. 6 Southwest Minnesota State (2-1) rallied back to defeat Pittsburg State (Kan.) (0-4) in four sets (23-25, 25-20, 25-11, 25-16) at the Wildwood Lodge Volleyball Classic hosted by Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday afternoon.

SMSU had four players with double digits in kills, led by Mary Groth who finished with 17 kills and Brooke Burmeister who recorded a double-double, including 16 kills and 12 digs. Sophomore Rachel Westby also recorded her first double-double of the season with a career-high 11 kills and 21 digs (ties career-mark in digs) in the match.

Brittany Wenzel recorded a new career-high with 34 digs in the match. She was also able to add one assist and a service ace in the match. Cara Carson gave the Mustangs a strong performance setting up the Mustang hitters with 49 set assists. Carson added five kills and 14 digs in the match.

Down 2-0 in the first set, Groth got the Mustangs on the board with her first kill of the match and the Mustangs went on a three-point run to take a 4-2 lead over the Gorillas.

After taking a 19-18 lead, Pittsburg State rallied for three straight points to take a 21-19 lead over the Mustangs. SMSU was able to side-out on an attack error by the Gorillas and tied the set at 21 on a Westby's fourth kill of the set.

Pittsburg State finished out the first set with three straight points, including a kill by Morgan Vorhees and two consecutive block assists to down the Mustangs 25-23. Westby and Groth each had four kills for SMSU in the first while the Mustangs hit .175 in the first set.

SMSU grabbed a six-point lead 15-9 after consecutive kills by Westby and Carson. The two kills helped turn the momentum into the Mustangs favor as SMSU would gain an eight-point 21-13 lead after two kills from Burmeister.

Southwest Minnesota State rebounded to win the second set 25-20. The Mustangs carried a small lead throughout the entire set, only allowing Pittsburg State to tie the set on three occasions.

The Mustangs kept the momentum rolling into the third set going on a six-point run behind the serve of Westby to take a 10-3 lead over the Gorillas. SMSU kept the pressure on the entire set eventually earning a 20-8 lead after back-to-back kills by freshman Alyssa Taylor.

SMSU continued to improve its hitting in the third set with a .323 team attack percentage. The Mustangs were able to hold the Gorillas attack off track with three team blocks, including a solo block by Carson. Pittsburg State hit -.118 in the third set picking up just five kills on 34 attempts while committing nine errors.

Groth got the ball rolling early in the final set connecting on two consecutive kills giving SMSU an early 3-0 lead. Pittsburg State rallied to take 10 of the next 12 points to gaining a 3-point lead over SMSU. After a timeout, SMSU went on a five-point run and did not look back from there.

Southwest Minnesota State will conclude play in the Wildwood Lodge Volleyball Classic on Saturday taking on No. 2 Central Missouri at 5 p.m.