MARSHALL, Minn. – The No. 15 ranked Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs volleyball team (13-4, 6-4 NSIC) defeated the Augustana Vikings (8-10, 2-8 NSIC) in three sets Thursday night, 25-22, 25-12, 25-16.
 
Leah Jones led the Mustangs with 11 kills while hitting .323 on the night. Mya Krystosek was the other Mustang with double figure kills with 10, while earning a double double with 10 digs. McKenzie Tolk led the team in digs with 15, while Sydney Thein had 36 assists and nine digs.
 
As a team the Mustangs hit .291 (41-11-103), while the Vikings who were led in kills by Brooke Berens with 10, hit .152 (33-16-112).
 
The first set started competitively, with Augustana holding a lead in several points in the set, including holding a four-point lead three times during set one. With the score 20-16 towards Augustana, the Mustangs went on an 8-1 run, led by Mya Krystosek with four kills, which effectively ended the set in favor of SMSU, 25-22 being the final.
 
The Mustangs exploded in the second set after the set started at 10-9 in favor of the Mustangs, going on a 12-0 run, which includes two aces from Sydney Thein and three kills from Natalie Pilney. The Vikings were never able to mount a comeback, and SMSU, who hit .414 in the second set, won 25-12.
 
Augustana started the third set leading 7-4 before a 10-3 run for the Mustangs gave SMSU a 14-10 lead, which they controlled for the rest of the set. SMSU ended the match on a 7-2 run, and won the set 25-16.
 
The Mustangs are back on the road for their next match against No. 7 ranked Wayne State at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The match will be streaming live on the NSIC Network, and more information can be found at smsumustangs.com/sports/womens-volleyball.