Box Score

MOORHEAD, Minn.- The fourth ranked Southwest Minnesota State women's volleyball team put the finishing touches on a perfect weekend with a 3-1 (25-19, 16-25, 25-22, 25-13) win over MSU Moorhead on the road Saturday evening.

The Mustangs came out with a decisive 3-1 win despite its worst hitting percentage in any match this season (.195) and a season high 27 hitting errors. SMSU's defense picked up the slack however as the team had 84 digs as a team, their second most this season and highest total in four set matches. MSU Moorhead's attack struggled as well with 26 hitting errors and a .053 hitting percentage as a team. 


Kaylee Burmeister had a second straight double-double performance with 11 kills and 16 digs to give her nine on the season. Taylor Reiss put up her team leading 11th double-double on the season with a match high 21 kills and 19 digs. Sarah Parker had two blocks and added 12 kills while hitting .385. Setter Megan Larson had 46 assists and 17 digs while Amber Messner had 17 digs. Freshman Jenna Walczak tied her career high in kills with six and Eisha Oden had five kills with five block assists.

SMSU struggled from a .162 hitting percentage in the first set that was tightly contested for the most part as the two teams were even at 17-17 when the Mustangs went on an 8-2 run to win the opening set. Two consecutive attack errors from MSU Moorhead's Mikayla Larson followed by a service ace from Taylor Reiss ended the first set 25-19.

The Mustangs struggled to get its attack going in the second falling behind 12-19 and finishing with just a .060 hitting percentage in the second. MSU Moorhead called a timeout with a 19-14 lead and closed the set on a 6-2 run to win the set 25-16.

With the help of eight kills from Reiss, SMSU rebounded nicely in the third set jumping out to an 8-1 lead. MSU Moorhead went on an 11-6 run to get within one at 13-14 but SMSU was able to hold the Dragons off for a 25-22 win in the set to go up 25-22.

Southwest Minnesota State suffered from 12 service errors including five in the fourth set, but SMSU had a match best .394 hitting percentage in the fourth set including six kills from Burmeister on just 10 attacks in the set. The Mustangs went a second straight set without trailing in the fourth and finished the match with a 10-4 run to win 25-13.

SMSU (22-4, 16-2 NSIC) now controls its own destiny to at least a share of the regular season NSIC Championship as they will continue hold a share of first place with two wins at home next weekend. The Mustangs will wrap up their 2016 regular season with Senior Day next Friday night at 7 p.m., followed by Parents Day against Minot State on Saturday at 4 p.m.