Oct. 29, 2006
HOUSTON (SMU) -
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The SMU volleyball team defeated Houston today, 3-2 (30-26, 30-27, 31-33, 22-30, 15-13). The Mustangs are 14-13 on the season and 5-8 in Conference USA play. Setter, Stefanie Kons, spread the front-line as four Mustangs notched double-digit kills.
This was the eighth meeting between the squads and the first Mustang win in the squad's history. Kons directed the offense with 62 assists and 14 digs. She made a career-high of six kills, tying her season-high attack percentage with .286. Kons also posted a career-high of 9.0 points along with a season-high in 14 digs and another season-high of four blocks. Kendra Kahanek put down 12 kills and seven blocks while Caitlin Rainbird totaled 22 kills and six digs.
Natalie Peters nailed 15 kills and six blocks as Rachel Giubilato combined a double-double with 16 kills and a season-high of 24 digs. She also served up three service aces and four blocks. Kara Cornelius posted three kills and five blocks while Madison Hill made ten digs and Candice Davis totaled 29 digs.
Houston made a quick start in game one but the Mustangs battled back to knot the score at 13-13. There were three more ties before SMU took over at 18-18. From there, the Mustangs were able to hold off Houston as SMU took the, 30-26, win. Game two saw six ties, four of them within the first dozen points. Houston took the lead till SMU battled back to force two more ties and then took over. The Mustangs continued to put series together to stay ahead of Houston taking the, 30-27, win.
Houston began with the lead in game three but the Mustangs quickly tied the score at 6-6. The Cougars came right back, tying the score again at 7-7. SMU had the lead but could not slow Houston down as the score became knotted again at 13-13. There were four more ties after that before the Cougars remained in the lead. The Mustangs put up five unanswered points to tie the score again and after a point for Houston and then a Cougar service error, the squads were tied again. Each team posted a three-point series causing two more ties, but with the final points flip-flopping every series, it was Houston's Justine Farmer that put down two consecutive kills for the, 33-31, Houston win. Overall, there were 13 ties in game three. The Mustangs could never get going in the game four as Houston cruised to the, 30-22, win. SMU made a run late in the game, but it was not enough to get past the Cougars, forcing a game five.
In game five, the Mustangs took the initial lead. Houston tried to battle back forcing two early ties, but it was not enough to stop SMU's momentum as they carried out the lead for the, 15-13, in game five, clinching the match.
The Mustangs return to action next Sat. on the road at Tulsa.
