BISMARCK, N.D. – The No. 8 Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs volleyball team wrapped up their weekend on a high note, getting past the University of Mary 25-23, 25-16, 31-29 on Saturday afternoon.
 
Karli Arkell was the lone Mustang to reach double digit kills, recording 10, with six blocks, including a pair of solo blocks. Emma VanHeel collected nine kills, while Saari Kuehl and Brooklyn Kusler had eight kills apiece. Meg Schmidt got it done on both sides of the net, finishing with seven kills and a career-best six blocks. Alisa Bengen engineered the offense with 38 assists, while Natalee Rolbiecki led the defense with 15 digs, followed by Abby Meister's 11.
 
The Mustangs led 10-6 in the early stages of the first set, but after an 8-1 run from the Marauders, UMary took control with a 14-11 lead. The Marauders led by as many as five at 21-16, but a 9-2 Mustang run, featuring three Arkell kills, would be enough to push SMSU to a 1-0 lead. 
 
The Mustangs would carry momentum to the second set, riding an 8-0 run to open the set, and scoring 21 of the first 26 points to lead 21-5. UMary answered with a. 10-1 run to close the gap, but SMSU closed the set with three of the final four points to go into the break up 2-0.
 
The Marauders would be in control for nearly the entire third set, holding leads of 10-3, 14-6, and 22-15, but the Mustangs would battle, scoring 10 of 12 points to take a 25-24 advantage into a set point. UMary would score the next two points and have set point serves at 26-25, 27-26, 28-27, and 29-28, but the Mustangs closed the match with the final three points, including a kill and an ace from Schmidt.
 
SMSU returns home next weekend, hosting MSU Moorhead on Friday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. before welcoming Northern State for a match on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 4 p.m., inside the PE Gym.