BISMARCK, N.D. – The No. 8 Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team rounded out its trip to North Dakota with a sweep over the University of Mary by scores of 25-14, 25-23, and 25-21. As a result, SMSU improves to 4-1 in the NSIC and 11-2 overall, while UMary drops to 4-10 overall and 0-6 in the conference.

The Mustangs dominated the match in every facet, giving the Marauders little-to-no chance to keep up. SMSU nearly doubled the Marauders total in kills, posting 44 to just 28 by UMary. UMary captured one box score stat, blocks, by a tally of 6-5.

SMSU, which hit .222 in the match, used a balanced attack between three players reaching over nine kills. Saari Kuehl racked up a match-high 12 kills, swinging a season-high .476, while Ashley Peltier added nine kills on a .200 hitting percentage, and Leah Jones recorded nine kills while hitting .222. Karli Arkell notched eight kills on nearly 36 percent hitting.

Alisa Bengen dished out 36 assists, collected three kills and no errors while hitting .333, and picked up five digs.
Natalee Rolbiecki and McKenzie Tolk combined for 24 digs to lead the back line, with Leah Jones adding 11 of her own digs. Kuehl and Emma VanHeel both had three blocks up front, with Arkell supporting the front line with two of her own blocks.

SMSU jumped to a 9-4 lead in set one, but the Marauders battled back, closing the gap to 12-7. The Mustangs would never trail in the set, and with the score at 22-11, the Mustangs powered up, scoring three of the next six points before a Bengen ace closed the set at 25-14. 

UMary would lead in the early stages of set two before trading points and leading as late as 19-14. SMSU would again surge late, scoring seven of nine points, with three kills from three different Mustangs leading the way. Umary pushed the score to 24-23, but Kuehl capped off a set with a kill to take a 2-0 advantage.

SMSU created separation through points 50-75, with the Marauders fighting off set-points at 24-20 and 24-21 to stay alive, but a Bengen kill and a UMary error would close the match and give SMSU their 11th victory of the season.

UP NEXT

• The Mustangs face a busy week at home starting with Augustana on Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m.
• SMSU welcomes St. Cloud State on Friday, Oct. 6, for the first game of SMSU Alumni Weekend at 6 p.m.
• Minnesota Duluth comes to town on Saturday, Oct. 7, to round out the Mustangs' week at 2 p.m.