The Spur

Issue date: 11/9/05 Section: Sports

Media Credit: southwestmsu.edu Erin Contons leaps for the block during a match for the Mustangs. The Mustangs concluded their regular season and now look ahead to Minnesota State University-Crookston in the first round of the NSIC playoffs.

A coin flip. That is what it all came down to for the Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team this past week. After dropping their final conference game of the year to Wayne State, the Mustangs were in a three way tie for the number two seed with Wayne State and MSU-Moorhead. The schools were left with no choice but to flip a coin and the Mustangs emerged as the number two seed.

When the Mustangs met up with Wayne State on Nov. 2, they knew the match would determine their final standings in the NSIC.

"It was our own fault that it had to come down to a coin flip," said Megan Wendorff, a junior elementary education student. "We knew the Wayne State match was going to be the determining factor for our conference seed."

The Mustangs and the Wildcats went back and forth in games one and two, but Wayne State scraped out the win in both games by scores of 26-30 and 29-31. The Mustangs dominated game three and won 30-23, but WSC answered to take game four, and the match, 24-30.

Sophomore Erin Contons continued her stellar hitting, as she finished the match with 22 kills. She also recorded 30 digs. Marcia Loeslie notched an impressive 60 assists and 19 digs.

The Nov. 5 non-conference meeting with Upper Iowa had no bearing on the Mustangs' post-season pairing, but SMSU knew a win could get them a little momentum for the NSIC tournament.

The Mustangs dominated Upper Iowa and took the match 30-16, 30-21, 30-28. The Mustangs used their powerful hitting and a strong defense to pull out the win. Despite a shaky performance in game three, the Mustangs were still able to get themselves a win before entering the conference tournament.

Contons led SMSU with a match high 18 kills. Loeslie and freshman Ashley Chambliss combined for 46 assists.

The Mustangs are now looking ahead to that conference tournament, where they will meet up with the number seven seed, the University of Minnesota-Crookston. The Mustangs have already beaten the Golden Eagles twice this season, but are not taking UMC for granted.

"Crookston is very good; they have a few really good athletes," Wendorff said. "We'll need to defend and play hard."

The Mustangs feel defense will be the key to their success in the tournament. After starting the season red hot, SMSU has cooled down a bit. However, the Mustangs believe as long as they work hard on defense the results will be positive.

"We've slipped into a slump right now," said Jen Otto, a senior elementary education student. "We've been working on a lot of defense because we feel its going to be a big factor."

The Mustangs bring a 23-6 record into the conference tournament, which begins Nov. 10 in St. Paul.

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