MARSHALL, Minn. - The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) is one of most challenging NCAA Division II volleyball conferences in the country, and the Winona State - Southwest Minnesota State match on Friday, Sept. 9 served as evidence of the quality of the league. 

Winona State fell to the Mustangs 3-0, despite battling in each set and registering a .302 team hitting percentage. SMSU entered the match with a 8-0 record and top ten national ranking, while WSU had collected wins over two nationally ranked opponents in tournaments at Concordia St. Paul and Cal State Dominguez Hills. 

On Friday in Marshall, the Warriors battled back but fell 25-22 in the first set, and registered the same score in set two. The third and decisive set was won by the Mustangs 25-23. 

For Winona State, two Warriors collected 12 kills apiece, with Sidney Paulson and Taylor Pagel leading the attack. Madison Larson added ten kills for WSU and Mikenna Joerger added five. Jaci Winchell dished out 35 assists across the three sets, and Pagel had a service ace in the match. 

Defensively, WSU was led by Casey Volkmann with 12 digs and Winchell added eight to the Warrior effort. Madison Larson and Mikenna Joerger tied for the team lead in blocks with five, while Taylor Pagel had three.

Winona State falls to 4-4 overall and 0-1 in the NSIC, while Southwest Minnesota State improves to 9-0 overall and 1-0 in league play. WSU is set to take on the University of Sioux Falls on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 4 p.m.