BOX SCORE
MARSHALL, Minn. - Brooke Burmeister registered 27 kills for No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State to lead the Mustangs to a 3-1 (25-14, 25-20, 22-25, 25-21) victory over Augustana Tuesday evening.
The Mustangs are now 15-6 (9-3 NSIC), while the Vikings drop to 11-9 (5-7 NSIC).
Taylor Hrdlichka led the Vikings with 13 kills and also recorded five blocks.
Dani Haley had 42 assists.
Kayla Wallerich recorded 14 digs and
Christine Bielski was close behind with 13.
Game one didn't start well for the Vikings as SMSU jumped to a 7-0 lead before recording a service error to give Augustana its first point of the night. The Mustangs held the Vikings to a .094 hitting percent to win the set 25-14.
Game two was much closer as SMSU never lead by more than five points. The set saw three ties, but the Vikings never put together a run to take a lead. With Augustana trailing 21-20, the Mustangs took four-straight points to win 25-20.
Augustana cut back its errors in the third set to hit .270, the best of the night. The Vikings began the set trailing the Mustangs, but was able to find a groove when down 7-5, winning seven of the next eight points. Augustana held onto its lead and a kill from
Holly Hafemeyer earned the Vikings a 25-22 victory.
SMSU regained strength in the final set and at 6-6 Augustana missed its opportunity to take an early lead as the Mustangs won the next four points. The Vikings remained on SMSU's heels throughout the set and managed its first lead at 20-19 off a kill by
Mikayla Gallagher. The Vikings gained a two point advantage over SMSU, but the Mustangs fought back for the next six points to take the set 25-21.
Augustana hit .193 in the match, while SMSU hit .279.
The Vikings are on the road this weekend to face U-Mary on Friday and Northern State on Saturday. Both matches are set for 7 p.m.
