BOX SCORE

ST. CLOUD, Minn. - The No. 8 Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team swept its tenth opponent of the season on Friday night when the Mustangs defeated St. Cloud State by scores of 25-15, 25-23, 25-23. With the win, Terry Culhane secured his 254th career win which ties Jeri Madden's mark for second most in SMSU all-time history.

The win was SMSU's 13th straight over the Huskies as the Mustangs haven't suffered a loss at the hands of SCSU since Nov. 9, 2004.

SMSU combined to hit .265 in the three sets with Abbey Thissen leading the way with 20 kills. Thissen finished the match with a .500 hitting percentage as she collected 20 kills on 36 attempts and just two errors. Claire Sames followed with 11 kills on 21 attacks (.429)

SMSU racked up 10 total blocks in the match as Thissen continued her big night on the defensive side of the ball with her six block assists.

SMSU ran away with set one by a score of 25-15. SMSU's Thissen and Jess Thelemann teamed up to record back-to-back block assists to close the set.

With the second set tied at 22, Thissen recorded two kills to lead SMSU on a 3-1 run to take the set 25-23.

Set three was close just as the second and yet again was Thissen who rallied the troops. Thissen put SMSU up 24-23 with her 20th and final kill and it was SCSU that committed an attack error to give SMSU the match.

SMSU improves to 18-5 overall, 13-2 in the NSIC, while the Huskies drdopped to 12-11 overall, 6-9 in conference play.

SMSU will head to take on No. 4 Minnesota Duluth tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m.