Aberdeen, S.D. - Northern State took one set, then another. Finally, with a 25-22 score in set four the Wolves beat the previously unbeaten and top-ranked Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State Saturday afternoon at Wachs Arena.

The No. 13 Wolves (15-2, 8-1 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) won the first two sets 25-22 and 25-23, but dropped the third 18-25, thanks largely to a 12-3 run by the Mustangs to end it.

Northern came out in the fourth set and did what it needed to do — forget all about the third set. A Holly Vancura ace earned the first point and it was 5-1 before Southwest called its first timeout. The Wolves would close it out, but not before trailing by as many as three points.

"Seven years," an emotional Northern head coach Brent Aldridge said after the match, referencing how long he has waited to beat Southwester Minnesota State. "I've waited seven years."

The Wolves led for most of the first set, even by as many as five points. The two-point margin of victory in the second set was the largest the Wolves had in that set. After falling into a 4-0 hole, they wouldn't lead until a Hailey Busch kill made it 19-18.

Busch's kills were key time and time again. The junior outside hitter missed two weeks with an ankle injury. Her first match back was Friday night's sweep of Sioux Falls. With kills, digs and even a service ace, every bit of Busch was needed Saturday.

Entering the weekend, Northern State head coach Brent Aldridge said Busch could be the difference-maker and she appeared to be just that.

However, she didn't do it all. Freshman Laura Snyder connected for key kills in each set. Jaiden Langlie finished with 31 digs. Jenna Reiff and Holly Vancura had 12 and 8 kills, respectively.

"That was a really nice volleyball match," Aldridge said.

Northern returns to action Friday at Wayne State.

Story Credit: Emily Horos - Aberdeen News