SAINT JOSEPH, Mo. – The No. 10 ranked Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team (6-1) ended its weekend at the Fairfield Inn & Suits Griffon Classic Saturday morning, sweeping Oklahoma Christian (3-4), by scores of 25-21, 25-21, 25-22 at the MWSU Fieldhouse.
Leah Jones led SMSU offensively with nine kills, while Lindsay Kruse also recorded nine kills and hit .444. Natalie Pilney added eight kills without committing an attack error, finishing with a team-best .615 hitting percentage while Mya Krystosek added five kills and 11 digs.
Tatem Schmidt directed the Mustang offense with 27 assists while also recording three digs and four service aces. Sydney Thein added 12 assists and eight digs. Ashlynn Schroeder paced the defensive effort with 16 digs, while Paige Steinmetz added seven digs.
SMSU hit .348 as a team (46-7-112). The Mustangs also finished with seven service aces, 13 total blocks and 54 digs. The Eagles, led by Chloe Jones with 10 kills, hit .168 (39-19-119).
The Mustangs controlled the opening set after Oklahoma Christian took an early lead. SMSU gradually built its advantage, taking a 10-7 lead before extending the margin to 14-9. Oklahoma Christian pulled within three points but the Mustangs scored five straight points to take a 22-14 advantage. The Eagles rallied late, cutting the deficit to 24-21, before Kruse closed the set with a kill for a 25-21 SMSU victory.
SMSU used a strong start in the second set, jumping ahead 6-1 following a four-point run that included an ace from Reese Drake and back-to-back Oklahoma Christian attack errors. The Eagles battled back and eventually pulled within 11-8, but the Mustangs responded with another three-point stretch to build a 14-8 lead. Oklahoma Christian later trimmed the margin to 19-15, but SMSU maintained control and finished the set with three straight points, including two consecutive kills from Kruse, to win 25-21.
The third set proved to be the most competitive of the afternoon. Oklahoma Christian opened with a 6-1 lead before SMSU battled back to tie the set at 10-10. The Eagles regained a four-point advantage at 14-10, but the Mustangs answered with a 5-0 run to take their first lead of the set at 15-14. The teams continued to trade points, with the set tied at 18-18 and again at 20-20. SMSU moved ahead 23-21 before Oklahoma Christian pulled within one, but Mollie Rupp delivered a kill to put the Mustangs at match point. An Oklahoma Christian attack error then gave SMSU the 25-22 victory and the sweep.
The Mustangs return to action next weekend, beginning NSIC play against Concordia-St. Paul in the state capital on Friday.
