MANKATO – The No. 7 Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team survived a scare in their first conference road match of the season, defeating Minnesota State 23-25, 25-12, 25-16, 25-27, 15-3 on Friday night.

The win moved the Mustangs to 11-0 for the second consecutive year, tying last year’s team for the second most wins to start a season in program history.

Four Mustangs recorded double digit kills, with Meg Schmidt (15), Emma VanHeel (13), Karli Arkell (12), and Halle Jansen (11) leading the offense. Alisa Bengen was solid in the set-up game, racking up 51 assists and nine digs. McKenzie Tolk led the back-line with 26 digs, while VanHeel and Arkell combined for nine blocks up front.

After splitting the first four points, the Mavericks jumped ahead 5-2 early thanks to three consecutive unforced errors by the Mustangs. The Mustangs battled back, tying the match at 5-5 before trading point for point until the 19-19 mark.

MSU pulled away with three straight points, but the Mustangs countered with four in a row to take a 23-22 lead. The Mavericks closed the set by scoring the final three points to complete a comeback win in set one.

The Mustangs played to their potential in set two and did not allow the Mavericks to score consecutive points, evening the match at 1-1.

After leading 8-7 to open set three, the Mustangs scored five points in a row, capped by a Natalee Rolbiecki ace, to lead 13-7. MSU closed the gap to as little as four at 20-16, But five straight points, again ended by a Rolbiecki ace, gave SMSU the 2-1 lead into set four.

MSU led for most of the fourth set before a trio of Mustang kills to give SMSU a 21-20 lead. The teams would trade points until 25-25, as a pair of Maverick points closed the set and sent the match into a fifth set.

The Mustangs controlled set five, scoring the first 4 points and 15 of the first 18 to take the set.

Schmidt opened the set with three straight kills to jumpstart the offense, leading the way to victory.

The Mustangs (11-0) head to St. Paul for a match-up against No. 5-ranked Concordia-St. Paul Saturday at 2 p.m.