Nov. 6, 2009

Box Score

Season Stats

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (SMU) - Dana Powell finished with her Conference USA-best 18th double-double of the season with 10 kills and 10 digs against Southern Miss, but the Mustangs (18-9, 8-5 C-USA) fell short, falling 3-1 to the Golden Eagles (24-4, 12-2).

SMU soared in the first set, riding a .455 hitting percentage by Powell to break a 5-5 tie to take a 10-6 lead. The Mustangs went on to stretch the lead to 19-12, and held the Golden Eagles down the stretch to take a 25-17 win in the first set.

Kendra Kahanek finished the match with nine kills and five blocks, extending her SMU career blocks record to 506 and taking her season total to 125, tying Janna Newson for fifth in a single season. The senior middle blocker needs 27 to surpass Natalie Peters' SMU record of 151 set in 2005.

The Golden Eagles out-lasted the Mustangs in the second set, out-scoring the Mustangs 7-1 on the last eight points, breaking an 18-18 tie to even the match with a 25-19 set victory.

It was the third set in which the Golden Eagles flexed their muscle, showing why they are the top-ranked team in the league, hitting .560 in the set with 15 kills and one error on 25 attacks. The Mustangs could only manage eight kills against Southern Miss, who extended their league-leading 12-match winning streak with the win. Southern Miss went on to take the fourth set as well for the 3-1 win (17-25, 25-19, 25-11, 25-12).

Kathryn Wilkerson finished the match with eight kills and 13 digs, and freshman Courtney Manning added four blocks. The Mustangs finished with nine team blocks.

The Mustangs will finish the road trip against UCF in Orlando, Fla., Sunday at 12 p.m. CST.