Photo courtesy of West Florida Athletics Southwest Minnesota State University libero McKenzie Tolk (11) walks toward her teammates to celebrate a point during a match at the West Florida Classic in Pensacola, Fla. on Friday.

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team moved to 3-0 on the season with a pair of victories on Friday at the University of West Florida SpringHill Suites Invitational played at the UWF Field House. SMSU started the day with a thrilling reverse sweep of West Florida, winning 23-25, 18-25, 25-9, 26-24, 15-12, before earning a 3-0 sweep over Northern Michigan by scores of 25-19, 25-23, 25-15.

In the win over UWF, Karli Arkell lead the team with 18 kills, setting a career high, hitting .516 and added seven blocks to her stellar performance. Leah Jones was second on the team with 14 kills, with several clutch kills in the final set, and 11 digs in the match. Mya Krystosek added to her strong start to the season with 12 kills and 12 digs.

McKenzie Tolk led the team in digs with 19 and had four assists. Sydney Thein earned a double-double with 49 assists and 17 digs.

The Mustangs hit .227 as a team (60-20-176), while the Argonauts, 1-1 on the season, hit .130 (59-34-193).

In the first set, neither team gained a real advantage. The largest lead was three points, 16-13 West Florida, before the Mustangs went on a four straight point run. The Argonauts however took over late in the set and won 23-25.

West Florida controlled the second set from the get-go, leading 19-12 at one point. SMSU fought back to a three point deficit at 20-17, until a four point run by the Argonauts effectively killed the set, 25-18.

Momentum shifted in the third set towards the Mustangs, as they dominated a crucial set. A 5-0 start got SMSU rolling, and after West Florida started to close the door, the Mustangs went on an 8-0 run to make the score 18-6, and killing the set off 25-9. The Mustangs hit .296 in the third set, while the Argonauts hit -.152 with 10 errors.

In set four, West Florida led 9-4 early, and their lead continued into the set. But after a 6-0 run, SMSU took only the second lead of the set at 22-21, before capping off an 11-4 total run and winning the set 26-24.

The final set was back and forth, both teams trading points. West Florida gained a 6-3 advantage, and the score was 8-4 when the two teams switched sides. That gave the Mustangs a spark, as they went on a 6-1 run capped by a crucial block by Sydney Thein and Natalie Pilney made the score 10-9, and eventually won the match 15-12.

In the second match of the day, Leah Jones led the team in kills with 12, hitting .300 on the game, and nine digs. Mya Krystosek had a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs. Ashley Peltier and Karli Arkell had seven kills each.

Sydney Thein led the team with 38 assists and had seven digs. McKenzie Tolk led the team in digs with 20, and Kennedy Drake finished second in that category with 14.

As a team, the Mustangs hit .248 (45-14-125), while the Wildcats, 1-2 overall, hit .105 (33-15-133).

In the first set, the Mustangs started strong and never let up, scoring three service aces in the set. Their largest lead in the set was seven points at 21-14, and both Mya Krystosek and Leah Jones had four kills, winning the set 25-19.

The Wildcats put more of a fight in the second set, going up 14-10 midway through. However, SMSU kept in it, eventually closing with a 6-1 run to take the lead 23-22, and retained the lead to win set two.

The Mustangs were in control for almost all of the third set, going on an 8-2 run, and cruising through the set for a 25-15 victory.

SMSU will look to go 4-0 on Saturday concluding the invite taking on Wheeling (W. Va) at 12:30 p.m.