PITTSBURG, Kan. – The No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State volleyball squad defeated the Pittsburg State (Kan.) Gorillas in five sets, 25-20, 20-25, 18-25, 25-23, 15-12. The Mustangs leave Pittsburg unscathed, and 7-0 to start the season.

Leah Jones tied her career high in kills with 19, hitting .231 and 20 digs, her season high. Ashley Peltier had 18 kills while hitting .260. Mya Krystosek added to the party with 13 kills and 21 digs, a team high in the match.

Natalie Pilney had 13 kills and hit .480, while Sydney Thein had 57 assists and 18 digs. McKenzie Tolk had 17 digs.

As a team the Mustangs hit .249 (75-22-213), while the Gorillas, led by Vix Vilott with 18 kills, hit .263 (68-18-190).

In the first set, the Mustangs got off to an early lead, and behind a 4-0 run and 7-2 run late in the set, the Mustangs won the set 25-20.

The second and third sets were controlled by the Gorillas throughout. Pitt State gathered big leads in those sets, being up by as much as six points in the second set, and being up double digits in the third. The Gorillas won the second set 25-20, and the third 25-18.

The Mustangs got back into rhythm in the fourth set, being up by as much as eight. With the score at 19-11 favoring SMSU, Pitt State mounted a comeback effort, winning six straight points. The Gorillas kept the pressure up, until Leah Jones made the final kill in the set, with the Mustangs winning 25-23.

The fifth set was a back and forth battle, with Pitt State controlling for the first half. But not before a 6-1 Mustangs run, led by three kills from Ashley Peltier eventually sealed the deal for the Mustangs.

SMSU starts NSIC play next weekend, traveling to Bemidji State on Friday, Sept. 19, and Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, Sept. 20. All games are available to watch on the NSIC network, and more information can be found at smsumustangs.com/sports/womens-volleyball.