Box Score
MARSHALL, Minn. -- The Minnesota State University Moorhead volleyball team saw its three match winning streak end on Saturday as the Dragons were swept by No. 9-ranked Southwest Minnesota State, 25-21, 25-12, 25-23 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action in Marshall, Minn.

The Dragons fell to 10-3 overall and 3-2 in the NSIC with the loss, while SMSU improved to 10-3 overall and 5-0 in the league.

Junior Maggie Gruber led MSUM with nine kills; she also added one solo block and three block assists. Junior Annie Palmquist had eight kills, while sophomore Kaitlin VanWinkle had four kills, one solo block and six assited blocks. Junior setter Sam Sullivan and sophomore setter Casie Baer each had 14 set assists for the Dragons, who hit just .095 in the match compared to .206 for the Mustangs.

SMSU's Rachel Westby had 31 digs in the three-set match.

"They are a strong defensive team," MSUM head coach Tammy Blake said.

MSUM led in the first set 4-2 after a Gruber kill, but the Mustangs scored eight of the next 11 points to take a 10-7 lead.  The Dragons were within 21-19 after a kill from sophomore Abby Wolpern but got no closer as SMSU prevailed 25-21.

The Mustangs steadily pulled away in winning the second set 25-12.

The Dragons got off to a good start in the third set, taking a 5-2 lead thanks to a kill and solo block from Gruber and a kill from sophomore Morgan Gradishar. MSUM led 20-15 after a Mustang attack error, but SMSU outscored the Dragons 10-3 the rest of the way to earn a 25-23 win and complete the sweep.

Gradishar added five kills for MSUM, while freshman Katie Meyers had 12 digs.
MSUM returns home next weekend for a pair of conference matches, starting at 7 p.m. on Friday against nationally-ranked Wayne State.