MARSHALL, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead Volleyball team lost in straight sets to No. 4 Southwest Minnesota State (12-3, 6-1 NSIC) in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference match on Saturday afternoon. The Mustangs won 25-13, 25-16, 25-11.

MSUM is now 6-9 overall and 1-6 in the NSIC.

Senior hitter Tyann Caspers led the way for the Dragons offense, putting down eight kills with a .143 hitting percentage. Caspers also had eight digs and two blocks. Redshirt-freshman Sarah Hagler, junior middle blocker Taylor Liesemeyer and junior captain hitter Carly Masloski each had three kills.

Sophomore libero Monica finished the match with 15 digs, and redshirt-freshman setter Makayla Wenzel had 17 assists.

SMSU jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in the first set, before MSUM tied the set at 4-4. Freshman hitter Courtney Selbitschka had a service ace in that stretch. The Mustangs used a 9-1 run to build a lead they would not surrender, winning the first set 25-13.

The two teams traded points early in the second set seeing the score at five apiece. The Dragons battled with the Mustangs, being down just three points at 16-13. That was as close as MSUM would get for the remainder of the second set. Caspers had four kills in the second set, while Liesemeyer put down three of her own.

MSUM fell behind early in the third set, and struggled to find a rhythm falling 25-11. Caspers led all Dragons with three kills in the third set. Masloski and Selbitschka each had two kills in the third and final set.

MSUM returns home on Friday, Oct. 7 for a NSIC matchup with Bemidji State (5-10, 1-6 NSIC). The first serve is slated for a 7 p.m. start.