>Box Score
MARSHALL, Minn. – No. 6 Southwest Minnesota State volleyball moved its winning streak to four and in the process set a new program record in hitting percentage with a .494 team percentage as the Mustangs dominated St. Cloud State Friday night in the PE Gym by scores of 25-11, 25-13, 25-9. SMSU has not lost to St. Cloud State in over a decade and has swept the Huskies in the last nine consecutive matches.SMSU honored Ellen Degler before the match for senior night.
Kenzie Beekman led the Mustangs with 15 kills while hitting a new career record with an outstanding .750 and zero errors—last time a Mustang hit .750+ in a match was Alyssa Taylor in 2011. Abbey Thissen tallied 10 kills while also hitting an impressive .500. Jessica Thelemann recorded eight kills while hitting .385 and Sarah Parker contributed seven kills and hit .385 including a team-high six blocks. Whitney Burmeister paved the way for the defense as she recorded 14 digs in the match. Megan Larson powered the offense as the true freshman dished out 42 assists in the sweep.
Southwest Minnesota State (20-7, 15-5 NSIC) hit a new program record hitting .494 and recorded only seven errors in the match while putting up 10 team blocks. St. Cloud State (7-20, 1-18 NSIC) hit -.012 and did not record a block on the night.
SMSU started the first set strong as the Mustangs took an early 7-2 lead and did not look back. The Mustangs controlled the rest of the set to take it, 25-11. SMSU was a perfect 12-12 on sideouts and hit a match-high .571.
In set two, both teams traded points at the start as the set there was a match-high six tie scores and three lead changes. SCSU led 11-10 in the set before SMSU went on a seven point run led by Jessica Thelemann. The Mustangs held control the rest of the set closing it 25-13 and took a 2-0 set led going into intermission.
After the break, SCSU kept up with SMSU early tying the score at 6-6. The Mustangs finally took control and dominated the rest of the set as the SMSU recorded 14 straight points to complete the sweep, 25-9.
Southwest Minnesota State will continue action tomorrow afternoon in the PE Gym to play No. 2 Minnesota Duluth at 4 p.m.The match will be the final regular season game before the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament begins on Tuesday. More information to come on the NSIC tournament.
