ABERDEEN, S.D. — Leah Jones’ 24-kill, 12-dig performance helped lead the No. 16 Southwest Minnesota State University volleyball team to its fifth-straight victory after defeating No. 22 Northern State University Saturday night on the road in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matchup. The Mustangs took down the Wolves in sets of 25-17, 26-24, 27-29 and 25-21.

Three different Mustangs scored double-digit kills, including Ashley Peltier’s 19 on a .349 hitting percentage, her highest number of kills this season. Karli Arkell finished the night with another 12 kills to pair. Jones’ 24 was her second highest number of kills in a match in her collegiate career, and also notched her fourth double-double of the season. Thein paced the offense throughout the match, tallying a game-high 62 set assists.

SMSU collectively finished with a .256 hitting percentage, and NSU stayed close with a .251.

The match was competitive from the defensive end, with SMSU tallying 92 digs with five different players finishing with double-digit digs. NSU had 89 digs on the night, led by Abby Schauer’s game-high 37.

For SMSU, McKenzie Tolk protected the floor with a team-high 24 digs, while Kennedy Drake followed close behind with another 21, marking a career-best for her in digs. Thein had another 12 digs to pair with Jones, while Paige Steinmetz recorded 10 more digs.

The Wolves were strong at the front of the net with block assists, to SMSU’s eight.

After taking the first set, the Mustangs were able to gain a 2-0 lead on the night in extended points in the second set after a kill from Arkell tied the score up, 24-24, after facing a 21-23 deficit.

SMSU continued to take the next 2 points for the win behind a NSU attacking error with match point coming from a Jones’ kill.

The third set also saw extra points after Peltier tied the game at 25 following a kill, which went on to become tied at 27-27 after SMSU and the Wolves traded kills.

But, NSU was able to prevail for the win to avoid a sweep with back-to-back kills.

The Mustangs however were still able to find the answers throughout the fourth set to end the night early.

The two teams again went point-for-point, up to an SMSU 20-17 lead before the Mustangs finished the game with a trio of kills from Jones, one from Natalie Pilney and match point from a Peltier kill.

SMSU moves to 18-6 overall and 11-6 in NSIC play, and will next look to stay in the win column today against Jamestown (9-15, 4-13 NSIC) at noon at the Harold Newman Arena.

The Mustangs will return back to Marshall for their final regular season matches next weekend, hosting UMary on Friday and Minot State on Saturday.