Oct. 14, 2007
NCAA Box Score
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2007 Cumulative Season Stats
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ORLANDO (SMU)--The Mustangs completed their sweep this weekend, beating the UCF Knights, 3-1 (27-30, 30-19, 30-27, 33-31), while three SMU players notched double-doubles in the match. SMU improves to 14-8 on the season, 4-4 in conference play and UCF drops to 9-14, 0-8 in C-USA action.
Kathryn Wilkerson recorded her 14th double-double of the season with 19 kills and 13 digs. Caitlin Rainbird tallied her seventh double-double of 2007 with 17 kills and 20 digs, while Stefanie Kons notched her eighth with 48 assists and 14 digs. Natalie Peters continued to build on her outstanding season, contributing 18 kills on 37 swings (.378), with three aces, a block solo and four block assists.
The Mustangs dropped the first game to the Knights, but came back to win the next three straight, hitting .217 combined on the day. The Ponies also held the advantage in team blocks (13.0-9.0), kills (65-64) and digs (75-64).
Game four was close, as the two teams battled for control. The Knights jumped out to a 6-2 lead, but SMU fought back, eventually tying the score at 9-9. The teams struggled through six more ties, but the Mustangs outlasted UCF and won the game in extra points.
The third game saw UCF score first, building a 6-2 lead. But the Mustangs took four straight points and tied the game at six apiece. The Knights then jumped out to a three-point advantage, but SMU chipped away, trying the game again, 10-10. The teams tied twice more before the Mustangs finally took control, leading the Knights by two points before UCF went on a run and tied the game at 20 all. UCF then took the lead, forcing SMU into a timeout. The teams continued to trade points, knotting the score at 26. But the Mustangs took four of the game's final five points to put the game away.
Game two was dominated by SMU. The Mustangs opened up a nine-point lead, forcing UCF into their first timeout. The Knights were able to get within six points twice, but never closer, as SMU held them to -.136 hitting.
The first game was also close, as the teams tied 16 times and the lead changed six times. SMU scored first, but the Knights responded immediately and built a four-point lead. Finally the Mustangs tied the score at 13-13. The teams traded points, with neither able to gain more than a tenuous one-point lead over the other. In the game's 53rd point, UCF broke the stalemate. With a 27-26 lead, the Knights scored three of the game's last four points, shutting the Mustangs down and taking the game.
The Mustangs are back in action next weekend as they split a home and home series with Tulsa. Friday, the Ponies head to Tulsa to take on the Golden Hurricane at 7pm, before returning home Sunday to face the Golden Hurricane at 1pm. For the complete schedule and results, log on to SMUMustangs.com.
