Box Score
DULUTH, Minn.- Second ranked Southwest Minnesota State came out with a first set win but struggled against the Minnesota Duluth attack as UMD won three straight sets in a 20-25, 25-21, 25-14, 25-14 win over SMSU on Friday night in the Romano Gymnasium.

SMSU finished with a .227 hitting percentage on the night and were led on offense by Taylor Reiss who had 19 kills while Brooke Borchardt added another 13 kills in the loss.

Megan Larson had 35 assists, eight digs and four kills for SMSU while Kaylee Burmeister, playing libero for the first time for SMSU, registered 12 digs and had four assists on the night.

The Mustangs held UMD to just .089 hitting in the first set after SMSU forced 10 hitting errors from the Bulldogs to begin the match. SMSU went on a quick 3-0 run to pull ahead from an 8-8 deadlock and never gave up its lead on the way to a 25-20 win to take a one-set lead.

The Bulldogs attack would improve from that point posting a .500 hitting percentage in the second and third sets. The Mustangs were able to rack up 18 kills in the second set and trailed by just one point late in the set at 19-18. UMD went 71 percent on sideouts in the second frame however and pulled away to a 25-21 win to even the match.

Minnesota Duluth then went 80 percent (12-of-15) on sideouts in the third set holding SMSU to just nine kills as a team on the way to a 25-14 win. SMSU could only manage seven kills in the fourth set and was held to a .000 hitting percentage as UMD won again by a 25-14 score to secure the victory.

The Mustangs will now look to rebound tomorrow as they travel to face St. Cloud State tomorrow afternoon beginning at 2 p.m.