Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. – The No. 9 ranked Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team remained undefeated in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play with a thrilling 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 17-25, 26-24, 15-12) victory over No. 8 ranked Northern State on Friday night inside the PE Gym.
 
Angela Young led a balanced offensive attack for the Mustangs with 16 kills while Meg Schmidt added 13 kills.
 
The SMSU defensive block was outstanding recording 15 team blocks with Zoe Lier recording eight block assists and one block solo. Young, Schmidt and Lydia Sussner each chipped in with four block assists.
 
Payton Hjerleid racked up a team-high 19 digs for the Mustangs with teammates Emma Thomssen (15) and Alisa Bengen (10) each reaching double figures in digs.
 
Thomssen and Bengen also both finished with 24 assists.
 
SMSU, which improves to 9-2 overall, 3-0 NSIC, finished the match hitting .211 with 62 kills on 175 attack attempt.
 
NSU hit .212 for the match with 63 kills, while falling to 9-2 overall, 2-1 NSIC. The Wolves were paced by Laura Snyder's 24 kills.
 
It was a comeback victory for SMSU which faced an NSU match point in set four and also trailed 7-2 in set five.
 
NSU held an 11-8 advantage in the final set before a Wolves' service error sparked a 6-0 Mustang run. Sussner and Young recorded back-to-back kills to tie the score at 11-11. Hjerleid then followed with a service ace to give SMSU a 12-11 lead and forcing NSU into a timeout. An NSU hitting error made the score 13-11 before another service ace by Hjerleid pushed the score to 14-11. After an SMSU service error, the Mustangs closed out the victory on another attack error by the Wolves.
 
Southwest Minnesota State continues the weekend homestand on Saturday facing MSU Moorhead at 2 p.m.