Mankato, Minn.--- The Minnesota State volleyball team fell by way of a sweep to #2 Southwest Minnesota State on Friday evening at Taylor Center. The Mavericks fell by the scores of 25-18, 15-11, 27-25.

With the loss, MSU's overall record falls to 15-12 and 9-10 in NSIC play.

In the first frame of action, MSU came out of the gates firing as it was up 6-1 over SMSU. However, after a Mustangs timeout, they quickly rebounded and went on a 7-1 run to give themselves a 8-7 lead over the Mavericks. MSU never regained the lead in the rest of the set as SMSU ended set one with a 25-18 win.

Junior Krista Hassing [Blue Earth, Minn.] and Lexi Platz [Lafayette, Minn.] led the way in the set for MSU as each one recorded three kills apiece. Senior Rachel Ott [Stoughton, Wis.] chipped in with two kills of her own, while senior Ellie Van De Steeg [Hutchinson, Minn.] added eight assists.

In set two, the Mustangs took control early as they took a comfortable 11-3 lead over the Mavericks. SMSU took its first double-digit lead in the set at 16-6 and would go on to take set two 25-11 over MSU.

The Mavericks accumulated just a .120 attack percentage in set two, while the Mustangs finished with a .471 attack percentage. Platz added another three kills in set two and Hassing tallied two more of her own. 

In the third and final set MSU was in control for the majority of the set as it had as big of lead of six, 18-12, over SMSU. Momentum quickly changed from that point on as the Mustangs battled back and trimmed the Mavericks lead to one, 21-20, late in the set. MSU answered back with a 3-0 run of its own to take a 24-20 lead over SMSU. However, once again the Mustangs rallied back and went on a 4-0 run to tie the set up at 24-24 all. SMSU was able to retain its momentum from that point on as it won the third set 27-25 over MSU.

Hassing, Platz, Ott and junior Haley Fogarty [Belle Plaine, Minn.] all finished with three kills a piece in the set while Van De Steeg added another 10 kills.

Overall, the Mavericks finished the match with a .172 attack percentage, while the Mustangs ended the match with an impressive .327 attack percentage. 

Platz led MSU with a team-high nine kills in the match, while Hassing finished right behind with eight kills and a team-high three total blocks. Ott chipped in with six kills and seven digs, while Fogarty totaled five kills and four digs. Van De Steeg ended the match with a team-high 24 assists, along with four kills and four digs, as freshman Maddie Keute [Grand Rapids, Minn.] posted a team-high 11 digs in the match.

MSU closes out their regular season home schedule on Saturday, as it will play host to Sioux Falls. First serve is set for 4:00 p.m. Saturday's matchup will also mark as "Senior Day" for the volleyball team and it will be the last opportunity for MSU students to take part in the "10,000 serve."