Crookston, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State controlled the match on Friday night in front of the Minnesota Crookston faithful, as the No. 17 Mustangs cruised to a sweep of the Golden Eagles (15-25, 14-25, 25-18).
 
Minnesota Crookston falls to 6-15 (0-13 NSIC).
 
Set One
The Mustangs would score the matches first two points, but the Golden Eagles would answer with a pair of points.
 
Madison Carsten (Jr., OH, Wadena, Minn.) would collect a kill to tie the set at five, but SMSU would answer with five points of their own.
 
SMSU would eventually extend the lead to 16-6, but Carizma Muth (R-So., OH, Randolph, Wis.) would finish off a service ace to cut the lead in half to 16-8.
 
Minnesota Crookston would score three in a row to make it 20-15, but that's the last scoring the Golden Eagles would do, as SMSU would win the set by 10.
 
Set Two
Set two would be all Mustangs. The Mustangs would take a 13-3 lead midway through the set, but Emma Malek (Jr., MH, Plainfield, Ill.) would collect a kill to cut the lead to four.
 
SMSU would win the set by 11.
 
Set Three
Set three would be a much better effort for the Golden Eagles, who would keep the set close for a large part of the third set.
 
SMSU would take an 11-6 lead, but the Golden Eagles would answer with four straight, capped off by a Muth kill and service ace.
 
The Golden Eagles would tie the set at 12.
 
From that point on, the set would be tied at 13, 14, 16 and 17.
 
With the set tied at 17, SMSU would take a 22-17 lead following five in a row and they would win the set by seven to win the match, as well.
 
Individual Stats
Carsten led the way with eight digs on 47 total attacks with eight digs, while Muth finished with eight kills and 10 digs. Lexi Scharold (So., MH, Alexandria, Kent.) added four kills and two blocks.
 
Lauren Schnettler (R-Fr., DS/Lib, Clarissa, Minn.) finished with a career high 12 digs in the match.
 
What's Next
Minnesota Crookston will host Sioux Falls tomorrow for a 2 PM first serve as it is also Cancer Awareness Day.