>Box Score

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team was held to a .139 hitting percentage as the Mustangs were swept by Tampa (Fla.) in the NCAA Division II national championship on Saturday night on the campus of Bellarmine University by scores of 25-14, 25-20, 25-21.
 
SMSU finished the season 26-10 and advanced to the national championship for the first time in program history.
 
Abbey Thissen led the Mustangs with 14 kills while hitting .290. Kenzie Beekman contributed nine kills and Sarah Parker added six. Megan Larson dished out 34 assists while Whitney Burmeister led the defense with 13 digs. Eisha Oden and Parker put up two and three block, respectfully.

Tampa came out in full control in the first frame as they took the lead after a 6-6 tie and didn't let up taking it, 25-14. The Spartans finished the set hitting a match-high .323 and held SMSU to -.032.
 
UT kept the momentum going into the second set as they led the majority of the way. SMSU pulled the score back to within two points but came up short as Tampa took the set, 25-20.
 
In the third, Southwest Minnesota State tried to jump start its offense as the Mustangs led 5-2 early but the Spartans came back in full force and tied it up 8-8. The Mustangs would not give up the lead until UT came back and regained it at 15-14 and went on to hold it the rest of the way despite SMSU tying it at 21-21. Tampa would take the set 25-21 and complete the sweep and be crowned the NCAA Division II national champions. There was a match-high eight tie scores and four lead changes in the final set.

Thissen, Burmeister, Oden and Larson were all named to the All-Tournament team.
 
SMSU's record setting season came to a close with a record of 26-10. Tampa earned its second national championship title since the first one in 2006 and finished 34-1.