BISMARCK, N.D. – The Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team (7-2, 1-0 NSIC) opened conference play on Friday night with a sweep (25-21, 25-12, 25-14) over UMary (1-8, 0-1 NSIC) at the McDowell Activity Center.

With Friday’s victory, SMSU head coach Terry Culhane, becomes one career-victory shy of his 400th career win accolade. Culhane currently has a 399-106 overall record.

SMSU was led in scoring by Angela Young, who had a match-high 16 kills. Young also tied for a team-high 12 digs with Payton Hjerleid to lead the defense.

The Mustangs hit a season-high .396 hitting percentage while holding the Marauders to a .045 percentage.

Alisa Bengen paced the Mustangs with 20 assists while Emma Thomssen added 18.

Sarina Smith thwarted off the Marauders in set one as the duo of Smith from Bengen would account for back-to-back plays from the Mustangs early on in set one. With the score tied at 7-7, Young would account for two kills and with the addition of two attack errors on the Marauders, the Mustangs earned the first run of the match for 10-7 lead. The Marauders fought throughout set one as the Mustangs attempted to gain the upper-hand. With a two-point lead, kills from Meg Schmidt, who finished the night with nine kills, and a kill from Rachel Fink, who finished with six, would boost SMSU to a 25-21 victory in set one.

SMSU’s largest lead of the match came in set two as they were able to go on a seven-point run to fend off Mary and kept a ten-point lead throughout. The Mustangs had four service aces in set two, including back-to-back aces by Young and one each from Hjerleid and Bengen.

The Mustangs would keep the same intensity throughout set three, stringing together three significant runs. With the set tied 3-3, Bengen would go to the line and help create a five-point run early on for a 8-3 lead. With a 12-7 advantage, SMSU would utilize yet another run, this time a six-point run, to gain a 10-point lead nearing towards the end of the set.

The Mustangs pushed towards the match victory with the last run of the night to make it match-point. With a four-point run at 21-12, the Mustangs would get to match-point before an error would allow Mary a last chance at a rally before another error would close out the victory for Southwest Minnesota State.

Mary was led in scoring by Morgan Schnabel with six kills.

Southwest Minnesota State (7-2, 1-0 NSIC) will travel to Minot State (0-9, 0-1 NSIC) today for a 2 p.m. match.

– Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications