JAMESTOWN, N.D. – The No. 16 ranked Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team (19-6, 12-6 NSIC) defeated the Jamestown Jimmies (9-16, 4-14 NSIC) in four sets, 25-15, 24-26, 25-17, 25-20. This was the first meeting between the two since 1991.
 
Leah Jones led the Mustangs with 15 kills, hitting .300 on the match, adding four service aces. Jones was one of four Mustangs with double digit kills, along with Ashley Peltier with 12, Karli Arkell with 10, and Paige Steinmetz with 10 and nine digs.
 
McKenzie Tolk tied her season high in digs this afternoon with 29 and Sydney Thein had 48 assists and 14 digs.
 
As a team the Mustangs hit .241 (58-19-162) while the Jimmies, who were led in kills by Addison Brooke with 13, hit .113 (43-25-160)
 
After the Jimmies got off to an early 8-6 lead in set one, the Mustangs exploded for a 13-1 run with five kills from Leah Jones to give SMSU a double-digit lead, a lead which they would keep for the rest of the set. The Mustangs as a team hit .313 in the set and won 25-15.
 
In the second set, the Mustangs gained an early lead, which they maintained for over half the set. However, with SMSU leading 18-15, the Jimmies went on a 5-1 run, giving Jamestown a one-point lead. After the Mustangs battled back to 24-24, Jamestown scored the next two points and won the set 26-24.
 
After an even start to the third set, tied at 7-7, the Mustangs went on a 10-4 run giving SMSU a six-point advantage. The Mustangs got back on track in the set, hitting .256 while adding three service aces, and took the third set 25-17.
 
SMSU gained a 6-2 lead early in set four, however the Jimmies remained strong, leveling the set at 9. But the Mustangs responded with a 7-1 run, giving themselves a 16-10 lead, which they would keep for a majority of the set. SMSU limited the Jimmies to hit .075 in the fourth set, and the Mustangs won the set 25-20.
 
SMSU returns to Marshall for the team's final pair of regular season matches next weekend, facing UMary on Friday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. in the PE Gym for Senior Night, and the next day facing Minot State at 2 p.m. for Parents' Day. Both matches will be streaming live on the NSIC Network. Tickets and more information can be found at smsumustangs.com/sports/womens-volleyball.