THE RUNDOWN
STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Four Mustangs notched double-digit kills on the second day of the Tarleton Invitational Saturday to lead Midwestern State to a 1-1 record and close out its season-opening weekend.
 
After falling short of a comeback to No. 18 Central Oklahoma (3-0) in a 3-1 defeat, Midwestern State (2-2) took down Southwest Baptist (Mo.) (0-4) in the tournament finale, 3-1.
 
Seniors Addison Semer and Meghan Bettis each recorded a team-best 13 kills while junior Rockelle Gholson added 11 in the loss to the 18th-ranked Bronchos to begin the day.

In the opening set, UCO pulled away from the Mustangs midway through the frame before collecting a 25-17 first set victory. The Mustangs jumped out to a 9-3 advantage in set number two and held a lead for a majority of the game until the Bronchos evened up the set at 20 apiece following a 5-0 spurt. Following a kill by freshman Addy Cook for a 22-all score, UCO closed out the set with a 3-0 run to take a 25-22 win and 2-0 lead.
 
Semer and Gholson combined for 13 of MSU's 17 kills in the third set as the Mustangs hit .455 to earn a 25-20 win. In the fourth set, a 9-4 run by MSU gave the Mustangs a 15-14 advantage following a kill by Bettis to force a UCO timeout. The Bronchos fended off the Mustangs rally, closing out the set on a 6-2 spurt to take a 25-21 victory and the match.
 
In the weekend finale, freshman Raven Presley finished with a season-best 12 kills and .364 hitting percentage to lead MSU to a win over Southwest Baptist.
 
The Bearcats built an early 13-6 lead in the opening set before the Mustangs closed the gap to two following a Gholson ace. Midwestern evened the frame twice down the stretch, but SBU's Katie Robinson and Dana Neal each tacked on kills to earn a 25-23 victory.
 
A 6-0 run early in the second set lifted the Mustangs to a 12-6 lead and gave the momentum to the Maroon and Gold before claiming a 25-19 win. Presley and sophomore Sarah Eakin each totaled four kills in the third set to lead the Mustangs to a 25-18 victory after ending the frame on an 11-6 run for a 2-1 lead in the match. 
 
Midwestern hit a match-best .400 percentage while holding SBU to a -.083 hitting clip in the fourth set to coast to a 25-14 win and record its second victory of the season.

NOTES
- Midwestern State had three players reach double figures in kills for the first time this season against Central Oklahoma with Meghan Bettis (13), Addison Semer (13) and Rockelle Gholson (11) leading the way
- Semer hit a team-high for the Mustangs this season with a .440 percentage against UCO with just two errors in 25 swings
- The Mustangs put together another balanced offensive attack against SBU with Raven Presley finishing with 12 kills followed by Semer with 9 and Sarah Eakin and Meghan Bettis each adding eight
- Kristan Aduddell dished out the second-most assists of her career with 53 against Central Oklahoma for her fifth 50-plus assist performance
- Aerielle Edwards notched a career-best 26 digs against UCO and followed up with a team-high 15 digs against SBU

UP NEXT
Midwestern State continues tournament play next weekend at St. Edward's Hilltopper Classic in Austin. The Mustangs will face three teams in two days with matches against Black Hills State (S.D.), St. Edward's and Southern Arkansas.