Photo by Jake McNeill Southwest Minnesota State University outside hitter Leah Jones spikes the ball over a pair of UMary blockers during the first set of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference volleyball match at the PE Gym in Marshall on Friday night. The No. 7 Mustangs defeated the Marauders in straight sets.

MARSHALL — Junior outside hitter Leah Jones’ match-high 15 kills and four service aces and senior libero McKenzie Tolk’s 29 digs led the No. 14 Southwest Minnesota State University volleyball team to a 3-1 win over Jamestown Saturday in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate matchup, marking six consecutive wins. The Mustangs defeated the Jimmies in sets of 25-15, 24-26, 25-17 and 25-20.

SMSU’s defense shined in the victory, finishing with a collective 81 digs to Jamestown’s 68 digs. The Mustangs’ offensive power was also too much for the Jimmies, finishing the match off with a .241 hitting percentage while holding Jamestown to a .113 mark.

Jamestown took an 8-6 lead in the opening set following a pair of Mustangs’ hitting errors and a service ace, yet SMSU embarked on a 13-1 run behind five kills from Jones to turn things around and bolster a 19-9 edge.

SMSU controlled the rest of the set from there with kills by Jones, Natalie Pilney and Ashley Peltier, along with a Jones’ service ace, to take the first game.

Tolk’s 24 digs tied a season high, which also paired with Sydney Thein’s double-double performance of a game-high 48 assists and 14 digs. Kennedy Drake and Ashlynn Schroeder added to the defensive pressure with another 10 digs each.

The Mustangs faced challenges in the second set after the Jimmies worked to rally back from a 17-13 deficit.

Jamestown went on a 5-1 run to tie the set up 18-18, and continued to go point-for-point up to a 24-24 tie.

The Jimmies ultimately took the second set in extra points to tie the night up behind a kill from Ava Mueller and an SMSU hitting error.

Yet, SMSU confidently took the third set after building a 20-14 lead with a string of combined kills from Jones, Peltier and Pilney.

Returning the favor, the Mustangs took a 2-1 advantage on the night after finishing on a 5-1 run, with a Jones’ service ace and Peltier kill accounting for the final 2 points.

Along with Jones, three other Mustangs finished in double-digit kills. Peltier tallied 12 kills, while Karli Arkell and Paige Steinmetz followed with another 10 kills each. Pilney hit an individual team-high .398 percentage with her nine kills to two errors.

Gracie Adamson led Jamestown with 11 kills, as did Sophie Ketterling on the defensive end with 20 digs.

SMSU put the night away with a set-four win after taking a 17-11 lead.

An Arkell kill and Steinmetz ace continued pushing the Mustangs forward, and a final Jones’ service ace and Peltier kill finished the set off and secured the win for SMSU.

SMSU also had 14 block assists on the night to the Jimmies’ eight, powered by Pilney’s four and

SMSU (19-6, 12-6 NSIC) currently sits fifth in the NSIC standings as of Tuesday as the Mustangs head into the final weekend of the regular season. The Mustangs will host UMary on Friday for Senior Night in the PE Gym at 6 p.m., and will do the same against Minot State at 2 p.m. for Parents’ Day on Saturday. Both matches will be available to watch on the NSIC Network.