ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University volleyball team was defeated by the St. Cloud State Huskies (24-6) in three sets in the NSIC Tournament quarterfinals, losing 14-25, 21-25, 12-25 on Tuesday night at Halenbeck Hall.

The Mustangs finish the 2025 season with a 21-7 record.
 
Paige Steinmetz led the Mustangs in kills with 10, hitting .240, and tied for the most digs with McKenzie Tolk, tallying 10. This is the first career double-double for Steinmetz. Leah Jones and Ashley Peltier each had six kills. Sydney Thein had 26 assists.
 
The Mustangs hit .103 as a team (31-19-116) while the Huskies, who were led in kills by Shelby Kimm with 15, hit .370 (46-6-108).
 
With the score at 7-6 favoring the Huskies in the first set, SCSU scored six straight points, and later in the set went on a 7-1 run, eventually winning the first set 25-14. The Huskies hit .368 in the period.
 
The Mustangs built a 9-7 advantage in the second set behind two kills from Ashley Peltier. SMSU retained the lead late in the set until an 8-3 run from SCSU ended the set 25-21 behind a pair of kills from Ella Thompson.
 
SCSU started strong in the third set leading 9-1 early. The Mustangs gained a pair of points before an 8-1 run gave the Huskies a 17-4 lead, which proved too much for SMSU to come back. SCSU hit .406 in the period, winning the set 25-12.

SCSU will now face Wayne State in the tournament semifinals on Friday night in St. Paul, Minn. 

This was the final match for Mustangs seniors McKenzie Tolk, Karli Arkell, and Kenna Bixby.