PITTSBURG, Kan. — The No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State University volleyball team continued its undefeated start to the season with a sweep of Southern Nazarene (Okla.) in its first match of the Pittsburg State Classic on Thursday. Mya Krystosek and Leah Jones combined for 30 kills as the Mustangs picked up their third consecutive 3-0 win by set scores of 25-12, 25-19 and 25-17.

SMSU worked its way up to a 6-4 lead when Krystosek led the Mustangs on a 9-0 service run, including one ace and three kills from Natalie Pilney. Even once the Crimson Storm broke up SMSU’s run, they never recovered as the Mustangs outscored Southern Nazarene 10-7 for the remainder of the set.

Krystosek and Jones each tallied 15 kills in the match, with Krystosek putting together a .500 hitting percentage and Jones coming in at .343. Natalie Pilney also contributed 11 kills on a .471 clip.

Setting up those kills, Sydney Thein finished the match with 41 set assists on one error, as well as a service ace and nine digs.

Southern Nazarene claimed its first lead of the day at 2-1 to start the second set, but a pair of Krystosek kills and a pair of Southern Nazarene hitting errors allowed SMSU to put together a 4-1 run to take control. The Mustangs maintained the lead for the remainder of the set, with a McKenzie Tolk service ace and a pair of Karli Arkell kills helping SMSU to five unanswered points for a 14-7 lead.

The Crimson Storm made a comeback effort late in the set, going on a 6-2 run to cut the deficit to 23-18, but kills from Pilney and Jones sealed the 25-19 victory.

Tolk and Kennedy Drake led SMSU’s defensive back row with 11 digs each in the match. In the front row, Krystosek and Arkell each had an ace block, with Krystosek also contributing one block assist and Arkell and Ashley Peltier each logging two block assists.

Southern Nazarene claimed its latest and largest lead of the day when an Isabella Labrada kill put the Storm up 7-5 in the third game. Yet, Jones recorded three kills and combined with Arkell for a block to lead the Mustangs on an 8-0 run to seize all momentum.

SMSU led by as many as 9 points in the set, capitalizing on a 4-0 run to go up 17-8, and coasted to a 25-17 clincher from there.

Kate Wright led Southern Nazarene with 11 kills on a .333 hitting percentage, and her six digs tied Avery Ramos for a team-high. Emma Grace Moddelmog and Brelee Mauldin each finished with nine set assists for the Crimson Storm.

SMSU improves to 5-0 on the season with the win and takes on Maryville (Mo.) in its second game of the Pittsburg Classic today at 10 a.m. at John Lance Arena. From there, the Mustangs will wrap up the tournament on Friday night with a 7 p.m. match against the hosting Pittsburg State Gorillas.