WICHITA FALLS, Texas — Midwestern State (13-9, 8-3) swept Texas A&M International (7-15, 1-10) 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-20) on Saturday at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Mustangs held a 37-27 advantage in kills, hit .189 and limited TAMIU to a .045 hitting percentage.
The Mustangs broke open the first set by winning seven of eight rallies from a 14-12 lead to move ahead 21-13, with
Jenna Redding serving through the final four points of that stretch and adding an ace. Earlier, after TAMIU went in front 4-3, the Mustangs answered with a
Nyle Mathis kill, a
Jaiden Wright kill and several opponent errors to build an 8-5 lead.
Macy Scheer continued to set up the attack through the middle of the set, assisting kills by
Isabella Dickens,
Aaliyah Toppin and Wright as MSU stayed in front. The Mustangs closed the set with late points from Toppin, including a kill and a service ace, before a block by Scheer and Dickens finished a 25-15 win.
MSU opened the second set with five straight points on
Isabella Dickens' serve, getting a service ace, a Mathis kill, a Wright kill and two block-assisted TAMIUattack errors to build a 5-0 lead. TAMIU worked back within 10-9, but the Mustangs kept answering with kills from Mathis, Wright and Toppin, with Scheer repeatedly setting the attack. Redding added a service ace during a three-point stretch that pushed MSU ahead 17-13, and Dickens followed with two kills as the home side maintained separation. After TAMIU was within 20-17, the Mustangs won three straight points, including a Wright kill and a
TaNia Penn-Wright block, before closing the set 25-18 on a TAMIU attack error.
The Maroon & Gold overcame an early 4-2 deficit in the third set by taking five of the next six points, with Mathis, Toppin and
Lillian Noble each recording kills during the stretch to move ahead 7-5.
Giselle Cazares followed with back-to-back service aces to help push the lead to 10-6, and Dickens, Penn and Toppin added kills as the Mustangs stayed in front through the middle of the set. After Tex. A&M Int'l got within 20-17, Dickens and Mathis answered with consecutive kills before a TAMIU attack error and another Noble kill brought MSU to set point at 24-17. TAMIU scored the next three points, but Mathis finished the set with a kill from Scheer to give the Mustangs a 25-20 win.
Scheer finished with 32 assists, adding two kills, four digs and two total blocks. Mathis led the Mustangs with nine kills and 10.0 points while adding five digs and two block assists. Cazares collected a team-high 11 digs and served two aces. Toppin added eight kills, five digs, one ace and one block assist. Dickens recorded her 1000th career kill, and Redding had the 1000th dig of her career during the victory.
Up next, MSU volleyball team hosts Eastern New Mexico on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 6 p.m. at D.L. Ligon Coliseum in Wichita Falls, Texas.
-- MSUMustangs.com --
