MARSHALL, Minn. – The No. 17 ranked Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team (12-4, 5-4 NSIC) defeated the Winona State Warriors (10-7, 5-4 NSIC) Saturday afternoon in a three set sweep, 25-17, 25-18, 25-13.
 
Mya Krystosek led the Mustangs with 12 kills, hitting .367, with five digs. Leah Jones and Ashley Peltier had 11 kills each, and both hit .579 on 19 attacks. McKenzie Tolk led SMSU with 14 digs, and Sydney Thein had 37 assists and 12 digs.
 
As a team, the Mustangs hit .484 (49-3-95) while the Warriors, led in kills by Kenna Kornely with 16, hit .225 (39-16-102). The .484 mark is the third highest hitting percentage in a match in Mustang volleyball history, and the three hitting errors are the least in a match in the last 25 years for SMSU.
 
The first and second set started in a similar fashion, with the first set tied at 12-12, and the second set tied 11-11. The Mustangs went on a 7-2 run in the first, and ended the set on a 5-1 run. SMSU hit .438 in the first set. With the match tied in the second set, the Mustangs came alive with an 8-2 run, with two kills from Natalie Pilney and Ashley Peltier. SMSU never gave up their lead in the second set, and while hitting .581, won the second set 25-18.
 
In the final set, the Mustangs got off to an early lead, and eventually went on a 13-2 run led by Karli Arkell with four kills. SMSU hit .438 in the final set, and won 25-13.
 
The Mustangs are back in the PE Gym on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m. against Augustana (8-8, 2-6 NSIC). The game will be streaming live on the NSIC Network. Tickets and more information can be found at smsumustangs.com/sports/womens-volleyball.