Photo by Jake McNeill: Southwest Minnesota State setter Alisa Bengen goes up for a hit during the Mustangs’ four-set win over Sioux Falls in the SMSU PE Gym on Tuesday night.

MARSHALL — The No. 7 Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team won three-straight sets on Tuesday evening to take down Sioux Falls in a non-conference match-up 3-1, by scores of 18-25, 25-15, 25-16, 25-21.

As a result, the Cougars drop to 8-11 overall, remaining 4-6 in the NSIC, while the Mustangs increase to 16-3 overall, and stay at 8-2 in the conference.

A trio of power-hitters who smashed more than 10 kills apiece led the Mustangs offensively. Leah Jones topped the team totals with 14 kills on .293 (14-2-41) hitting. Jones added one block and nine digs in her performance while grabbing a team-high two service aces in the win. Saari Kuehl hit for 29% on 13 kills with only three errors. Kuehl notched three assists and three total blocks in her effort elsewhere.

Brooklyn Kusler rounded out the top Mustang attackers with 11 kills. Kusler hit 45 percent in the match, tallying just two errors on 20 total attempts, and added three block assists to the block party.

Alisa Bengen, who reached 3,000 career assists last Thursday, put up 41 assists in her effort and captured eight digs and two block assists on the back line. Bengen smashed nine kills in addition to her passing, hitting 43 percent on 21 attempts.

McKenzie Tolk anchored the defense, securing a team-high 14 digs while posting two assists and grabbing one ace.

SMSU’s loss in set one was clearly observed through hitting percentages. SMSU hit just .178 in the first game compared to .355 by USF.

Up next

The Mustangs travel to Bemidji State (8-10, 5-5 NSIC) for a match-up against the Beavers on Friday, Oct. 20, at 6 p.m.

SMSU then heads to Minnesota Crookston (3-15, 1-9 NSIC) to square off with the Golden Eagles on Saturday, Oct. 21, with first serve set for 2 p.m.