By Noah Grant / Sports Reporter / @noahgrantpxp /St. Cloud, Minn.
-The St. Cloud State volleyball team opened up the NSIC Tournament with a dominant win over
Southwest Minnesota State. The Huskies won in straight sets, 25-14, 25-21, and 25-12.

SCSU started the match out on a hot streak, opening up with five straight points in the first set.
The Mustangs would battle back to cut the lead to 7-6, but the Huskies would go on a 13-4 run
backed by four kills from Abby Wachal and three from Shelby Kimm. St. Cloud State also picked
up four blocks in the first set, holding the Mustangs to just .087 hitting.

Southwest Minnesota State battled back in the second set, a back and forth affair. The lead
changed hands three times, and the set was tied eleven times. This time it was Ella Thompson
and Sam Zimmerman leading the way for the Huskies, each recording five kills as the St. Cloud
State attack stayed in rhythm. Wachal ended the set with a service ace to put the Huskies on
the brink of victory. It was one of eight aces for SCSU on the evening.

With the momentum on their side, St. Cloud State rolled to a decisive victory in the final set. The
Huskies jumped out to a 9-2 lead, with the only two Mustang points coming on service errors.
SCSU hit .406 in the final frame, their best set of the match. Kimm earned her 14th
double-double of the season, finishing with 15 kills on the evening and 12 digs. Zimmerman
added nine kills, while Thompson and Wachal tallied eight.

With the win, the Huskies keep their streak of first-round perfection alive, as they have swept
their last six first round matches going back to 2019. St. Cloud State will face Wayne State in
the semifinals on Friday, as the Huskies look to advance to their sixth straight NSIC
Championship. Friday’s match kicks off at 5:00 pm and will be broadcasted live on 97.5 RadioX with Joey Hudson on the call.