Box Score (PDF)

THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State used a balanced offensive attack to claim its Lone Star Conference opener with a 3-0 sweep (25-19, 25-23, 25-16) of UT Permian Basin Friday evening at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
 
In the first set, Midwestern State (5-4, 1-0 LSC) raced out to an 8-4 lead after back-to-back aces from junior right side hitter Sarah Garfield to force an early timeout for the Falcons. The Mustangs continued to maintain a comfortable lead on UT Permian Basin (4-6, 0-1 LSC) with freshman outside hitter Erin Richburg registering four of her nine kills for the match in the set to help MSU record a 25-19 win.
 
UTPB jumped ahead 5-1 in the second set before the Mustangs rallied with a 3-0 spurt to even the frame at seven apiece. The Falcons used a 4-1 run to break a 12-12 tie and grab a three-point advantage on the Mustangs. Midwestern continued to fight back, erasing a two-point deficit with back-to-back kills from junior middle blocker Addison Semer for a 19-all score. It was point-for-point in the frame until a kill for junior outside hitter Meghan Bettis and a UTPB attack error clinched the set for the Mustangs, 25-23.
 
The Falcons looked to be in control midway through the third set, taking as much as a four-point lead on the Mustangs after three-straight blocks for the visitors for a 13-9 score. Midwestern inched closer to UTPB with kills from Richburg, Bettis and sophomore middle blocker Kiley Beaver to force a timeout after evening the set at 14. It was all MSU the rest of the way as the Mustangs closed out the frame on a 9-2 run to earn the sweep.

NOTES
*Erin Richburg led the way for the Mustangs with nine kills while Kiley Beaver (8), Meghan Bettis (7), Addison Semer (7) and Sarah Garfield (6) were also contributors to the MSU offense
*Semer finished with a team-best .455 attack percentage, committing just two errors on 11 swings
*Junior setter Kristan Aduddell recorded her third double-double of the season with 30 assists and 10 digs to lead MSU
*Midwestern State hit .198 for the match while holding UTPB to a .069 percentage
*The Mustangs tallied nine service aces on the night with Garfield posting a career-best four aces to lead the Mustangs

STAT OF THE GAME
9 – Erin Richburg tallied a career-best nine kills Friday night
 
QUOTE OF THE GAME
"I'm proud of how aggressive we came out and how consistent we were with tough serves. At times, we fell behind because of too many back-to-back errors but it's the risk we're still willing to take at this point. We were consistent and that's what we were shooting for. I loved the energy of the bench and the relentlessness on the court tonight." – Head coach Natalie Rawson
 
UP NEXT 
Midwestern State continues its homestand Saturday at 5 p.m. as the Mustangs host West Texas A&M at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.