PENSACOLA, Fla. – The No. 15 ranked Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team started the 2025 season off with a reverse sweep of the Spring Hill (Ala.) Badgers on the first day of the SpringHill Suites Invitational. The Mustangs won by the scores of 27-29, 23-25, 25-16, 25-23, 15-5.

This is the third straight year the Mustangs have played the Badgers on the opening match of the season in the same tournament. The Badgers finished last season with a record of 24-8 and advanced to the NCAA tournament.

Ashley Peltier had a career high 21 kills on the night, hitting .386, and adding two total blocks. Her previous career high was 18 kills against Wayne State on Oct. 24, 2024.

Mya Krystosek also had a career night with 19 kills, her previous high being four, with 14 digs, two service aces, and two total blocks.

Leah Jones joined the party with a double-double of 16 kills and 14 digs.

NSIC Preseason ‘Player to Watch’ McKenzie Tolk had a team high in digs with 24 and had four assists. 2024 All-NSIC first team honoree

Sydney Thein led the team with 66 assists and added 20 digs for a double-double.

As a team, the Mustangs hit .244 (77-23-221), while the Badgers hit .158 (52-23-184). The Badgers, who drop their first game of the season, were led by Claire Hayes with 19 kills.

SMSU struggled early, mainly with service errors, totaling 19 on the game as compared to Spring Hill’s five. The first two sets were back and forth affairs, with Spring Hill gaining control late in the first set. The Mustangs led the second set at one point 22-20 before the Badgers went on a 5-1 run to win the second.

After the Mustangs lead the third set 11-10, they went on a 14-6 run to get to a fourth set. Spring Hill got off to a hot start in the fourth, leading 16-14 at one point. The Mustangs battled back, going on a 11-7 run to force a pivotal fifth set.

SMSU went on a 6-0 run the start the fifth set, and never looked back, winning the fifth set 15-5.

The Mustangs will play two matches tomorrow, first against tournament hosts West Florida at 2 p.m., and then against Northern Michigan (1-0) at 7 p.m.