Complete Box Score vs. Montana in PDF Format 
Sept. 5, 2008
DALLAS (SMU) --- SMU volleyball took on and easily dispersed of the University of Montana in a three-game sweep (25-16, 25-22, 29-27) in Moody Coliseum on Friday afternoon in the SMU Radisson Invite. Freshman Dana Powell and sophomore Kathryn Wilkerson went out for 11 kills apiece on the way to a team hitting percentage of .179. The Mustangs had solid team defense (55 digs), and built a slightly impenetrable wall at the net (eight team blocks). Junior Kendra Kahanek also hit an impressive .545 and freshman Kelli Becerra led the team in assists with 20.
The Mustangs got off to a great start in the first set led by strong serving, forcing Montana to take a time-out at 17-12. However, the Mustangs were not discouraged in their path to success with Powell putting a Grizzly overpass away for a kill to make it 19-13. SMU rolled on to finish the set with the win and a .324 hitting percentage.
The Mustang serving assault continued into the second set with junior Carly Bergquist serving up an ace and giving SMU a 19-15 lead over the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies' attackers were then put to the challenge of getting around the superior blocking of senior Natalie Peters and senior Stefanie Kons who stuff blocked senior Grizzly Lauren Gustafson to extend the lead to 22-17. SMU went on to win the set 25-22.
Things got a little more interesting in the third set with both teams stepping up the tempo. Montana showed similar serving ability when they pulled ahead of the Mustangs 12-10 in a four point run while junior Whitney Hobbs' was serving. Nevertheless, Wilkerson and Kahanek combined to block a Grizzly attack giving the Mustangs a 19-18 lead. Powell joined in on the point-raising effort by following with an ace, successfully turning the momentum around and helping SMU secure the win.
The Mustangs will try to continue their winning ways (4-1) against the University of New Orleans at 7:30 pm tonight in Moody Coliseum at the SMU Radisson Invite. Mustang volleyball picks up again tomorrow, Sept. 6, at 3:30 pm against Stephen F. Austin University.
