ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Northern State University Wolves took on a nationally ranked opponent for the second time in less than 24 hours on Saturday, this time falling to thirteenth ranked Southwest Minnesota State University in straight sets by final set scores of 16-25, 23-25, 19-25.

The loss came on the heels of NSU's 3-1 upset of No. 14 Minnesota State, Mankato on Friday and dropped the Wolves to 12-17 overall and 7-13 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.  The visiting Mustangs improved to 25-7 on the season and 15-5 in conference action.

SMSU had two players in double figures in kills, led by All-NSIC players Devin Diedrich and Mary Groth, while hitting a solid .278 on the night.  The Mustangs also had 70 defensive digs as a team, keeping the Wolves off balance throughout the night.

NSU junior Jordan Sschaffer had eight kills to pace the Wolves offensively.  Middle blockers Claire Kopfmann and Whitney Morsching chimed in with seven apiece, while senior Kelsey Aden had six in her final career match.

The Mustangs took control of set one early, using a 9-1 run to go up 16-5 and forcing two NSU timeouts in the process.  The Wolves countered late, but never got closer than nine the rest of the way.

NSU rebounded to make things interesting in the second set.  The Mustangs built an 8-4 edge early, but the Wolves fought back to force nine more ties in the set, the last coming at 22-22.  Morsching thwarted SMSU's first set point with a kill to make it 23-24 and giving the Wolves a shot at a tenth tie, but SMSU's Groth put down her third kill of the set to give the Mustangs the 2-0 advantage going into the break.

Set three was more of the same, as SMSU again claimed the upper hand early.  The Wolves fought back to take a brief lead at 11-10, but the Mustangs reclaimed the advantage at 12-11 and never looked back. 

The loss ends the Wolves' 2009 campaign.