MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team (21-6, 14-6 NSIC) defeated the Minot State Beavers (3-27, 1-19 NSIC) in three sets Saturday afternoon, winning by the scores of 25-20, 25-12, 25-9.
 
Ashley Peltier led the team in kills with 12 while hitting .550 in the match. Leah Jones had eight kills and four service aces. Paige Steinmetz and Natalie Pilney each had seven kills, with Steinmetz leading the team in digs with 11. Sydney Thein led the way in assists with 34.
 
As a team the Mustangs hit .345 (41-11-87) while the Beavers, who were led in kills by Katelyn Onespot-Danforth with six, hit .023 (21-19-86).
 
In a first set containing nine tie scores and five lead changes, the Beavers remained diligent despite a strong offensive output from the Mustangs. Ashley Peltier had five kills on six swings in the period, and as a team SMSU hit .323 in the period, leading to a Mustangs win 25-20.
 
The Mustangs started the second set strong, leading 8-1 early in the period. SMSU then extended their lead with two four-point swings in the set. Peltier and Paige Steinmetz each had four kills, in a set where the Mustangs had 15 kills on 32 swings, and SMSU took the set 25-12.
 
After the Beavers cut the third set lead to three early, the Mustangs extended their advantage with seven straight points, and led 14-4. SMSU ended the match on a 9-2 run and won the set 25-9. Leah Jones served three aces in the third set, and held the Beavers to hit -.273 in the set.
 
The Mustangs end their regular season on an eight-match winning streak entering the NSIC tournament which begins on Tuesday, Nov. 18. SMSU, the No. 6 seed, will play at No. 3 seed St. Cloud State starting at 6 p.m.