DALLAS (SMU) – The SMU volleyball team defeated Cincinnati 3-1 (25-19, 15-25, 25-9, 25-22) in Moody Coliseum Thursday night.
Lauren Mills led the Mustangs with a match-high 18 kills and had 15 digs for her American Athletic Conference-leading 14th double-double of the season.
The Mustangs (15-7, 9-2 The American) secured the victory with a 25-22 win in the fourth set. SMU led by three, 15-12, but the Bearcats (9-14, 7-4 The American) came back to tie the set, 16-16. SMU maintained the lead, however, with a kill by Mills. The SMU lead was just one, 22-21, before a 3-1 run with kills by
Katie Hegarty,
Kelly Brunstein, and an ace by
Brittany Adams on the first match-point attempt, gave SMU the win.
Hegarty hit .414 with 14 kills and seven blocks in her return, while Adams scored 13 kills and four service aces. Adams also had 16 digs for her eighth double-double of the season. Brunstein added seven kills and six blocks.
Kendall Patterson assisted on 45 of SMU's 57 kills, and recorded 12 digs, finishing with her 10th double-double of the year.
Montana Watts had a match-high 19 digs, and freshman
Julia DiBona added 10. SMU had 75 digs and 11 blocks, holding Cincinnati to a .171 attack percentage. The SMU offense hit .203 as a team.
The Mustangs dominated the third set from start to finish, winning 25-9, for a 2-1 lead in the match. SMU scored eight of the first 10 points for an 8-2 lead. Later, Adams served three aces as part of a string of seven straight points for the Mustangs as the lead was pushed to double figures, 17-6. The Bearcats managed just seven kills and seven digs in the set, finishing with a .083 attack percentage. Meanwhile, the SMU offense hit .577 with 16 kills and just one error.
SMU took an early lead and held it the rest of the way for a 25-19 victory in the first set. Cincinnati scored the first point, but it was the only lead the Bearcats enjoyed in the set. SMU scored seven of the next nine points for a 7-3 lead. Cincinnati cut the lead to one point three times during the set, including at 12-11. SMU went on a 7-2 run for a 19-13 lead and the threat was over. Mills led the attack with six kills, and Adams added four as SMU hit .238 with 16 kills.
Cincinnati won the second set, 25-15, to tie the match. The Bearcats took a big lead early, but SMU rallied to get within two points, 9-7, before Cincinnati pulled away for the win. Cincinnati posted six blocks, forcing SMU into 11 attack errors with only 12 kills.
The Mustangs host East Carolina Saturday at 1 p.m. Fans are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes to the match.
