ST. PAUL, Minn. – Brooke Burmeister drilled a match-high 17 kills to lead No. 6 Southwest Minnesota State to a 3-0 season-opening victory over No. 10 Hillsdale College (Mich.) on Friday morning at the Concordia-St. Paul Classic.  SMSU earned the win by scores of 25-23, 25-18, 25-21.

Hillsdale finished 31-3 last season and advanced to the NCAA Final Four.

Burmeister finished the match with her 14th career double-double, adding 10 digs with her 17 kills, while finishing the match hitting .231.

Three true freshmen, McKell Anderson, Emilee Gutzmer and Abbey Thissen, started for SMSU and all played major roles in the victory.  Anderson recorded nine kills and nine digs, while Thissen added seven kills.  Gutzmer finished her first collegiate match with 40 assists.

Rachel Westby led SMSU with 17 digs.

SMSU (1-0) will continue action later today with a 4:30 p.m. match versus Regis (Colo.).