Volleyball Hits The Road In Conference USA Play
Oct 5 | Volleyball
Oct. 5, 2006
DALLAS (SMU) - After playing four straight matches at home, the Mustangs are taking to the road for four consecutive away matches. The first match-up is slated against Tulane at 7:00 p.m. on Friday and then the team will play at UTEP on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
The Mustangs are 10-9 overall and 1-4 in C-USA play. SMU is led by Rachel Giubilato who is currently 16th in the nation in kills per game with an average of 4.89 per game. She had totaled 356 kills for the season and 242 digs. She posted a career-high of 33 kills against SFA this past Tuesday. Caitlin Rainbird has notched 253 kills and 235 digs as she has registered nine double-doubles over the season.
Setter Stefanie Kons posted her first double-double of the season in the last match with 68 assists and 10 digs. Kons has a total of 670 assists for the season, 113 digs and 21 blocks. Candice Davis also posted a career-high last game with 32 digs as she has 228 for the season.
Tulane is 7-6 on the season and 3-1 in conference play, although the Green Waves are undefeated at home, 4-0. They are led by Sara Radosevic who has posted 196 kills and 113 digs. Ksenija Vlaskovic closely follows with 182 kills and 113 digs. Lauren Boatwright leads at the net with 52 blocks while Jenn Miller has 241 digs.
The Tulane vs. SMU series is tied as the teams head into the fifth meeting ever. Tulane took the first two games in 2001 and 2002 with scores of 3-0 and 3-1, while the Mustangs swept Tulane in the last two meetings, 3-0.
UTEP is 5-13 on the season and 1-3 in C-USA play and they are slated for one more match on Friday before facing SMU. The Miners are led by Christie Murphy who has 220 kills and 176 digs while Keisha Hyman-Gifth has 177 kills and 53 blocks. Katie Smith has averaged 10.76 assists per game and Elsa Reyes has notched 365 digs on the year.
SMU leads the series over UTEP, 11-5, with the earliest meeting between the squads was in the inaugural season of SMU volleyball in 1996. The Mustangs have won five of the last six meetings, dating back to the 2003 season.
