Box Score
MARSHALL, Minn.- Taylor Reiss had a season high 31 kills with a .518 hitting percentage as fourth-ranked Southwest Minnesota State (26-3) defeated Upper Iowa University (21-9), 25-19, 25-19, 24-26, 25-14 in the NSIC Tournament Quarterfinals on Wednesday night in the PE Gym.

Reiss, the NSIC Player of the Year for a second consecutive season, also added seven digs and there block assists for SMSU in addition to picking up at least 20 kills for a 10th time this season.

Brooke Borchardt had 13 kills in addition to three blocks and Sarina Smith had 13 kills with four block assists on the night.

Kaylee Burmeister had a double-double with 11 kills and 13 digs for SMSU while Megan Larson also had a double-double with a season high 61 assists and 13 digs in the win. 

Caedyn Reinhardt finished the night with a .429 hitting percentage after racking up seven kills for a second straight match.

The Mustangs jumped ahead 8-2 in the first set to force an Upper Iowa timeout before the Peacocks went on an 8-2 run to get within one at 12-11. SMSU then won the next four points to force the second Upper Iowa timeout of the first set. The Mustangs never relinquished the lead as SMSU eventually closed out a 25-19 win to begin the match.

SMSU led the second set early again as a 12-5 run from the Mustangs to start game two forced an Upper Iowa timeout. UIU got within three points when an Anna Winter kill made the score 15-12 but SMSU then went on a 5-2 run to make the score 20-15. The Mustangs nursed their lead to a 25-19 win in set two, going ahead 2-0 in the match.

The Mustangs opened the third on a 5-0 run but UIU responded and eventually tied the set at 9-9. SMSU went on an 4-0 run to go up 13-9 but responded again and came all the way back and used a 3-0 burst to go ahead 23-22. SMSU fought off one set point but UIU won two straight points to win the third game, 26-24.

SMSU started strong for a fourth straight set and never looked back as the Mustangs held Upper Iowa to just eight kills and an .027 hitting percentage in game four. SMSU won the final three points in a dominant, 25-14 win to clinch its place in the NSIC Semifinal.

The Mustangs will now travel to St. Paul, Minn., as they face Augustana, which defeated Northern State, 3-1 on Wednesday night in the NSIC Tournament semifinal round. Saturday's match is set to begin at 12 p.m., in the Gangelhoff Center on the campus of top-seeded Concordia-St. Paul.