AUSTIN, Texas — Midwestern State (9-2, 3-0 Lone Star) defeated St. Edward's (3-6, 0-4 Lone Star) in four sets at the Recreation and Convocation Center on Thursday, taking the match 25-17, 25-16, 23-25, 25-18. The Mustangs have a six-match winning streak and improved to 3-1 on the road.
The Mustangs tallied 54 kills and eight aces to secure the conference victory.
Midwestern State opened the first set with determination, quickly recovering from an early error to take control. A series of attacks led by
Isabella Dickens and
Trinity Vinzant, supported by
Alayna Guerrero's assists, allowed the Mustangs to build a 4-1 lead. They maintained momentum with strong defensive plays, including back-to-back blocks by
Jaiden Wright, extending the advantage to 13-6.
Aissa Villarreal's service aces helped further widen the gap, while consistent offensive contributions from Wright and Dickens kept the Mustangs in command. Despite the Hilltoppers' attempts to close in, MSU maintained their lead with key kills from
Arrianna Fields and
Demi Stauffenberg. The set concluded with a decisive kill by Stauffenberg, securing a 25-17 win for MSU.
MSU opened the second set with a strong defensive stance, as Dickens and Stauffenberg contributed key blocks and a service ace. The Maroon & Gold capitalized on the Hilltoppers' errors to maintain an early edge. Vinzant and Wright executed critical kills, which helped extend MSU's lead to 9-5.
As the set progressed, Guerrero and Stauffenberg combined for effective plays, furthering MSU's advantage. A sequence of service aces from Stauffenberg and a decisive kill by Vinzant pushed the Maroon & Gold ahead. Despite a few successful plays from the Hilltoppers, MSU maintained control, closing the set with a commanding 25-16 victory.
In the third set, MSU's offensive efforts were highlighted by Dickens and Guerrero, who combined for several key kills to keep the game competitive. Despite an early scoring gap, a series of successful plays, including a service ace by Villarreal, brought MSU to a 14-14 tie with the Hilltoppers.
As the set progressed, MSU continued to contest the Hilltoppers' lead, with Stauffenberg and Guerrero playing pivotal roles in reducing the deficit. The team managed to draw level at 23-23 following a consistent stretch of successful plays. However, the Hilltoppers managed to secure the final two points, closing out the set with a narrow 25-23 victory.
As the fourth set began, MSU gained momentum with a quick point due to an attack error by the Hilltoppers' Addy Badley. Dickens and Vinzant responded effectively for MSU, delivering key kills to maintain a tight contest. A series of errors from the Hilltoppers allowed MSU to equalize at 7-7, setting the stage for a competitive exchange.
MSU capitalized on errors from the Hilltoppers, with Stauffenberg and Dickens leading a surge that saw the visitors extend their lead. MSU pulled ahead decisively, reaching a 15-11 advantage through consistent pressure and effective blocking from Vinzant and Wright.
In the closing moments, MSU maintained their lead through a series of attack errors by the Hilltoppers and crucial kills from Vinzant and Wright. MSU closed the set with a 25-18 victory, sealing their performance with a final kill by Wright.
Dickens had 13 kills and accounted for 14 points in the victory. Vinzant finished with11 kills and added three block assists across four sets.
Giselle Cazares contributed significantly to the defense with 18 digs, providing stability in the back row. Guerrero showcased her playmaking ability with 38 assists, orchestrating the offense effectively. Wright was a force at the net, tallying six total blocks, including one solo, to challenge the opposition's attacks.
The Mustangs had eight blocks and eight aces in the match.
Looking ahead, the Mustangs travel to face St. Mary's at Bill Greehey Arena. The matchup is set for October 4, with first serve at 2 p.m.
-- MSUMustangs.com --
