After falling behind two sets to none and trailing 8-1 in the third, Southwest Minnesota State rallied for a five-set victory against Sonoma State in the Division II Women’s Volleyball Championship on Thursday in Louisville, Kentucky.
Sonoma State held a 19-14 lead in the third set before the Mustangs began gaining momentum. Eisha Oden planted one of her 10 kills to the far corner to get Southwest Minnesota State to a fourth set to set the stage for the win.
The match was held at Bellarmine’s Knights Hall as part of the Division II Fall Festival. Southwest Minnesota State moves on to Friday’s semifinals against Grand Valley State, which swept Wingate earlier.The fifth set was tied at 4-4 when the Mustangs (25-9) went on an 8-0 run to put the match out of reach.
Southwest Minnesota State was buoyed by the balanced play setter Megan Larson, who in addition to 38 assists registered 10 kills, including two in the decisive fifth-set run.
Kenzie Beekman led the Mustangs with 13 kills. Claire Sames, who was the Elite 89 recipient for the tournament, added 11 for the Central Region champions.
Sonoma State, which entered the quarterfinal as the West Region champion, ends its season 23-7.
