Mustangs Head South To Houston For Double Dose
Oct 26 | Volleyball
Oct. 26, 2006
DALLAS (SMU) - The SMU volleyball team is heading south this weekend for match-ups against two Conference USA opponents. The Mustangs will face Rice Friday at 7:00 p.m. and then will take on Houston at a 1:00 p.m. match on Sunday.
SMU is 13-12 on the season and 4-7 in Conference USA play. The Mustangs are led by Rachel Giubilato who has totaled 456 kills on the season. Her 4.85 kills per game average has earned her the 17th spot in the nation in kpg. Giubilato has also nailed a team high of 30 aces on the season. After breaking the top-10 in total career kills earlier this season, Giubilato is now in 5th place with 979 career kills. She is second on the all-time career kills per game list and Caitlin Rainbird is 5th with a career average of 3.16. Rainbird has posted 3.49 kills per game along with 3.32 digs for the season.
Stefanie Kons and Madison Hill split the setter rotation as Kons averages 11.43 assists per game and Hill averages 4.64 per game. Hill has posted three consecutive double-doubles as she averages 2.19 digs per game. Two-time C-USA Defensive Player of the Week, Candice Davis has dug deep for 374 total digs on the season and has also accumulated 22 aces. Kendra Kahanek and Natalie Peters led the blocking party as they have 86 and 78 total blocks, respectively.
This will be the 21st meeting between the Owls and Mustangs as Rice holds the 14-6 series record. Rice is 11-14 overall and 4-7 in C-USA play. The Owls are 6-4 on their home court this season and SMU is 2-8 at Autry Court.. Karyn Morgan averages 3.62 kills per game and 3.34 digs per game while Tessa Kuykendall averages 2.86 kills per game and 1.11 blocks per game. Rachel Lopez averages 11.21 assists per game and Yvette Kirk averages 4.36 digs per game.
Houston is 15-11 overall and 6-5 in C-USA. The Mustangs will be looking for their first win over Houston as there have been seven meetings between the teams. Justine Farmer leads the Cougars with 4.57 kills per game and 3.78 digs per game while Krystal Schulle averages 8.68 assists. Becca Sartori and Erin Rice have both totaled 71 blocks on the season.
The Mustangs will face Rice and Houston this weekend before taking on Tulsa the first weekend in Nov. SMU will return home for two more matches including a CSTV game against Houston on Nov. 10. before beginning post-season play at the Conference USA Championship in mid-Nov.
