Oct. 28, 2007
DALLAS (SMU)-- The SMU volleyball team cranked out a win over UTEP Sunday afternoon at Moody Coliseum, 3-2 (30-24, 29-31, 30-28, 24-30, 15-7). Four Mustangs recorded double-digit kills in the win, which also featured four double-doubles.
The victory lifts the Mustangs to 15-11 overall, 5-7 in Conference USA, while the Miners fall to 8-16, 2-11 in C-USA.
Natalie Peters led the Mustangs in hitting, averaging .438 on the day, while Kathryn Wilkerson, Caitlin Rainbird, Stefanie Kons and Madison Hill all recorded double-doubles. Wilkerson notched her 17th double-double of the season with a team-high 23 kills and 18 digs, Rainbird notched her ninth with 13 kills and 20 digs, Kons managed her eighth with 29 assists and 15 digs, and Hill pieced together her second of the season with 26 assists, 10 digs. Libero Candice Davis recorded 29 digs Sunday, while Kendra Kahanek led the Mustangs in block assists with six.
SMU led the Miners in blocks, digs and hitting percentage and tied UTEP in kills.
The Mustangs started game one down by two points, but quickly caught up, tying the game at three all, and again at four. SMU went up, 5-4, on an attack error by Catherine Chavez and never gave up the lead, at one time leading by as many as eight points. Though the Miners continued to whittle away at the lead, SMU never allowed them closer than six points.
Game two saw the Mustangs jump out to a 2-0 lead and build from there. Five times the Ponies held leads of six or more points, but the Miners would not give up. UTEP closed the gap and eventually tied the game, 28-28. A service error on Patty Jarmoc put the Ponies on top, 29-28, but the Miners tied it on the next play, forcing the game to extra points. UTEP then scored the next two points, putting the game away.
The third game was close throughout as neither team could build more than a two point advantage, battling through 11 ties and four lead changes. SMU never gave up and won the third game by taking three of the game's final four points.
UTEP led throughout game four. The Ponies took the first point, but the Miners quickly edged the Mustangs, 2-1. The two teams remained close through the game's first 24 points, with the Miners unable to gain more than a two-point advantage. UTEP managed to add to their lead, never allowing the Mustangs closer than three points, and forcing a fifth game.
The Ponies won the first three points of game five before allowing UTEP on the board. SMU then took another four straight points before allowing another UTEP point. SMU got stuck briefly at nine, allowing the Miners the score twice, but the lull didn't last long. The Ponies took six of the game's final nine points to down the Miners.
The Mustangs are back in action next weekend as they host Memphis Friday at 7pm and UAB Sunday at 1pm in the final homestand of the season. For the complete schedule and results, log on to SMUMustangs.com.
