Box Score

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The No. 15 Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team (14-8, 8-6 NSIC) entered the match on Thursday night, tied in conference wins with Sioux Falls (14-8, 6-8 NSIC), but not for the long, as the Mustangs came out strong offensively to earn a three-set victory (25-19, 25-17, 25-11) over the Cougars, at the Stewart Center on Thursday night. 
 
The Mustangs were led by Angela Young with 15 kills, a .520 hitting percentage, and only two errors committed. Young finished with a double-double, also adding 10 digs. SMSU's Jenna Walczak, Zoe Lier, and Meg Schmidt all contributed evenly with seven kills of their own. 
 
The Mustangs finished with a .305 hitting percentage and 41 team kills, paced by Emma Thommsen who finished with 20 assists while Alisa Bengen added 13. 
 
SMSU held USF to a .031 mark in the match with 24 team kills and forced  21 team errors. 
 
SMSU didn't fully take control of the first set as the set rallied to a one-point game at 14-13. SMSU went on the most crucial run of the set to advantage to a 23-18 lead which would give the Mustangs the lead needed as Lier dealt the next two kills for the 25-19 set victory. 
 
The Mustangs strong offense didn't allow for the Cougars to make many plays as USF recorded zeros for a hitting percentage with seven kills and seven errors in set two. The Cougars came within two points at 17-15 before six of the seven points needed would come kills dealt by the Mustangs for the 25-17 set victory. 
 
An early 4-0 lead to open the third set would all the Mustangs would need to earn the momentum needed to finish strong for a 25-11 final in the third. 
 
USF was led by Kassandra Springer who finished with nine kills. 
 
Southwest Minnesota State (14-8, 8-6 NSIC) will return home on Saturday to face Augustana for a 4 p.m. match in the PE Gym.