HAYS, Kan. - SMSU starts the season 8-0, defeating Adams State 25-11, 25-10, 25-11 to finish the Fort Hays State Classic. 

Angela Young picked up her second double-double of the season, logging 15 kills and 11 digs to lead the Mustangs. Emma VanHeel added her second career 10+ kill game, going for 10 kills and 2 blocks, while Payton Hjerleid and Rachel Fink combined for 25 digs to lift the defense. 
 
The first set was all Mustangs after falling behind 3-2 early, going on a 7-0 run while Young served as the catalyst. She posted seven kills and three digs to help the Mustangs roll early. The SMSU offense hit at a .333%, while limiting Adams State to -.120%. The Mustangs also benefited from four aces, while Adams State did not collect one. 
 
Set two was a fast start as well, seeing a Mustang lead grow to as much as 11-3 early on. The Grizzlies could never quite claw back, as SMSU held a double-digit lead for most of the set. Meg Schmidt led the way, tallying five kills in the set. Offense was the story again, as the SMSU outhit ASC .379%- -.033% on the road to victory
 
The Grizzlies wouldn't go down without a fight, climbing to a 6-2 lead early in the third set. An 11-2 SMSU run that was capped off by back-to-back Schmidt aces put the Mustangs on top, and would hold a lead the rest of the way
 
Schmidt put together 7 kills and two aces, while Brooklyn Kusler recorded six kills and Katelyn Nichols put up four kills, two aces, and four blocks.

The Mustangs have now won 12 consecutive matches dating back to the 2019 season. It is their longest winning streak since 2017, when they recorded 16 victories in a row to start their season. SMSU will begin conference play on Sept. 17 against Bemidji State.