Sept. 1, 2006
DALLAS (SMU) -
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The Mustang volleyball team rallied to hold off UTA for a 3-1 (30-18, 30-26, 17-30, 30-21) win tonight on day one of the Radisson Hotel Mustang Classic. SMU advances to 4-1 on the season as they head into the second day of the Classic to face Grambling St. and Toledo.
The junior pair of outside hitters, Rachel Giubilato and Caitlin Rainbird both posted double-doubles on the night. This is Giubilato's first of the season as she nailed 18 kills and 18 digs. Rainbird notched her second double-double of the season with 19 kills and career high 19 digs and added three blocks. Rainbird also hit a career high attack percentage of .425. Natalie Peters led the team with a career high 21 kills in 34 attempts posting a percentage of .529 on the night. Peters also had five blocks and 25.0 points.
Candice Davis led with 20 digs while Stefanie Kons guided the offense with 69 assists. Freshmen Adrienne Zielasko and Kendra Kahanek both posted high numbers. Zielasko punched six kills in 11 attempts for a percentage of .364 while Kahanek nailed down a season high 13 kills and got her hands on three blocks.
The Mustangs combined for a hitting percentage of .355 with 79 digs and 10 blocks.
SMU took advantage of the slow start from UTA. In game one, the Mustangs put up five unanswered points early in the game and then ended the game with a five point rally. They kept the momentum going into game two as they took the early lead and out hit the Mavs, .327 to .196.
UTA came out with a vengeance in game three as the Mustangs were not able to get back into the grove. But SMU took care of business in game four nailing down 20 kills on a hitting percentage of .459. The Mustangs threw up six blocks and 19 digs to kill the Mavs momentum and a late run of dominance by the Mustangs sealed the win.
SMU and the rest of the teams will begin day two of the Radisson Hotel Mustang Classic in the morning. The Mustangs will compete in the 1:30 and 7:00 p.m. matches against Grambling St. and Toledo.
