Nov. 16, 2006
HOUSTON (SMU) -
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The Mustangs rocked Southern Miss, 3-2 (27-30, 30-28, 26-30, 32-30, 15-11), in the first match of the Conference USA Championship hosted by Houston University. SMU is now 17-14 on the season and advances to take on the number one seeded Tulsa, Friday at noon.
Kendra Kahanek posted 11 kills and eight blocks while Adrienne Zielasko notched three kills and four blocks. Caitlin Rainbird posted a double-double with 20 kills and 11 digs, she also had two service aces. Natalie Peters compiled 16 kills and eight blocks while Rachel Giubilato acquired another double-double as she put down 18 kills, 22 digs and five blocks. Madison Hill and Stefanie Kons split time as the setter for the Mustangs. Hill had 41 assists and 11 digs while Kons posted 19 assists, four digs and three blocks. Jenny Reyes served two aces and had eight digs. Candice Davis had 22 digs and one service ace.
The Mustangs are 8-2 in five game matches and are 6-1 when four or more attackers notch double-digit in kills. The squad complied 17.5 blocks on for the match which ties for fourth in the record book for blocks in a game.
Southern Miss came out with a quick start in game one posting five quick points. With a block by Rainbird and Peters, the Mustangs started a rally of their own, tying the score at 5-5. Later with the score knotted, Southern Miss would take the lead while the Mustangs pounded back and with a block from Hill and Peters, would tie the score at 17-17. SMU then took the lead and used their momentum to carry over three more ties. The teams battled through the last five points with three more ties and two lead changes. Southern Miss was able to put the last few points down to take the, 30-27, win.
In the second game, the Mustangs started with the advantage and even though Southern Miss fought to tie the score three times, SMU powered past remaining in the lead. It wasn't until the 22-22 mark when Southern Miss won a long rally point as the ball rode the top of the net dropping on the Mustang side. With a kill by Peters and various Southern Miss errors, the Mustangs took the lead till the 25-25 mark. Southern Miss sparked their offense taking the lead from there but it was short-lived as SMU feed off the Golden Eagle's mistakes. The Mustangs used a Southern Miss error coupled with a block by Kons and Peters to take the 29-28 lead. Peters split the court and nailed down the kill for the Mustang, 30-28, win.
There were five ties and five lead changes in game three before either team touched 10 points. The Mustangs broke out of ties in the lead as Southern Miss fought to stay within a point. Southern Miss made a late rally, tying the score at 26-26 where they took over. The Golden Eagles took the, 30-26, win.
Game four saw five ties and three lead changes before the first 20 points combined. Southern Miss took the lead as the Mustangs fought back to tie the score at 26-26. From there, both teams battled to stay on top. With the score tied at 27-27, SMU began their rally. Kahanek and Zielasko went up for a block followed by a Southern Miss attack error and the score was tied again at 29-29. From the front corner, Peters put a kill down in the opposite front corner. As Southern Miss struggled to keep the ball, up they hit the ball into the net. Peters then placed the winning kill just like her previous attack. The Mustangs won the fourth game, 32-30, splitting the match and forcing game five.
SMU carried their momentum over into game five. The Mustangs powered through six ties and three lead changes as they put the winning package together to take the, 15-11 win. SMU punched .286 in the final game with 10 kills to advance in the championship.
The Mustangs will take on the regular season champions and the number one seed in the tournament, Tulsa, in a noon match on Friday.
