GOLDEN, Colo. – The Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team opened the season 2-0 for the fifth time since 2015 after a 27-25, 25-22, 25-15 sweep over Colorado Christian to close out day one at the Colorado School of Mines Classic. 
 
Saari Kuehl and Emma VanHeel recorded 11 kills apiece to lead the offense, with Kuehl adding eight digs and VanHeel recording six blocks to contribute defensively. Halle Jansen added offense as well, tying a career-high with nine kills. Natalee Rolbiecki paced the back line with 17 digs, while Alisa Bengen added eight digs and three blocks to go with 31 assists. 
 
The first 22 points of the match were split between the teams, with SMSU's 16-13 lead marking the first lead of more than two points. It would eventually grow to an 18-14 lead, but CCU scored five consecutive points to take a 19-18 lead. Points would be traded back and forth, giving the Cougars a 25-24 lead, but kills by Jansen and Karli Arkell would give the Mustangs the lead, and a CCU attack error gave SMSU the comeback victory in set one. 
 
Set two provided more fireworks, as each team traded offense and bringing the set to 21-21. The Mustangs powered through to close the set, as a block by Meg Schmidt and Arkell, a Kuehl kill, and an ace by Rachel Fink put SMSU within a point of closing out the set. After a CCU point, Kuehl put the cherry on top, picking up a kill and giving SMSU a 2-0 lead. 
 
After going down 7-4 early in the third set, the Mustangs rode a 7-0 run to jump out to an 11-7 lead. Leading 14-13 later in the set, SMSU decided enough was enough. The Mustangs dominated, closing the match scoring 11 of the final 13 points. SMSU outhit CCU .276-.118 in the final set to help zoom through the Cougars. 
 
The Mustangs will close the classic with Colorado Mesa at 10:30 a.m. CDT and No. 11 Colorado School of Mines at 1:30 p.m. CDT on Saturday.