Thursday, November 11
Tampa, Fla.
4 p.m.
SMU
at
USF
Mustangs Set For Conference Road Test
Nov 10 | Volleyball
SMU (13-11, 9-5 AAC) at USF (6-19, 0-14 AAC)
Tampa, Florida| The Corral
Thursday, November 11, 2021 – 4:00 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats
Â
SMU (13-11, 9-5 AAC) at UCF (20-6, 13-1 AAC)
Orlando, Florida | The Venue At UCF
Saturday, November 13, 2021 – 11:00 a.m. CT
TV:Â ESPN+
Live Stats
SMU NOTES (PDF)
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PREVIEW
SMU will wrap up its four-game road trip this week as the Mustangs travel to USF on Thursday, November 11 at 4:00 p.m. CT. On Saturday, November 13, SMU will then turn its attention to the conference leader, UCF beginning at 11:00 a.m. CT. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
SMU NOTES
The Mustangs are coming off a 1-1 American Athletic Conference road weekend after falling 1-3 to Memphis before taking care of Temple 3-1 in Philadelphia.
Hannah Jacobs and Lily Heim hit major milestones on October 31 vs. ECU. Jacobs joined the 1,000 kills club, while Heim secured her 3,000th career assist.
Jacobs leads the Mustangs with 273 kills. Rachel Woulfe ranks second on the team with 264 kills. Lily Heim leads the team with 657 assists. Bria' Merchant and Makayla Miller rank first and second in digs with 323 and 245, respectively.
Kaylyn Winkler was the latest Mustang to be named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll. Winkler earned consecutive weekly awards after a big home weekend against Cincinnati and ECU, before continuing to be a force up front against Memphis and Temple. Winkler ranked second in The American with 1.50 blocks per set and led the league with 12 total blocks during a 1-1 SMU road swing; turned in six block assists at Memphis (Nov. 3) before finishing the week with seven kills, two digs and six blocks (one solo) in a win at Temple (Nov. 7).
SMU currently sits in a tie for third-place with Wichita State and Cincinnati in the AAC with an 9-5 league record. The Mustangs only trail Houston (11-3) and UCF (13-1).
Merchant was selected to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll on Oct. 25. Merchant finished third in The American with 4.43 digs for 1-1 SMU; tallied 14 digs and three assists in three sets against UCF (Oct. 22) and contributed 17 digs, two aces and four assists in a four-set win over South Florida (Oct. 24).
Woulfe turned in a signature performance and was named AAC Offensive Player of the Week in a 2-0 in Week 8. Woulfe hit .464 with 15 kills in a win at Houston on Oct. 15 and added 22 kills on .413 hitting in five sets at Tulane on Oct. 17 to earn conference offensive player of the week honors.
Winkler ranks fourth in the league with 1.13 blocks/set against conference opponents. Alex Glover (.378) and Winkler (.371) rank third and fourth, respectively in hitting percentage in the American.
Alex Glover earned the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week (Week 6). Glover continued a recent run of good form for a 1-1 weekend, leading The American with 1.71 blocks per set and finishing second with a .481 hitting percentage among all conference players. Glover hit an impressive .667 with eight kills and five total blocks (one solo) in a sweep of East Carolina on Oct. 1. Glover turned in seven kills and a .333 hitting percentage with three digs and seven block assists in four sets at Cincinnati on Oct. 3.
Heim was named to the AAC Weekly honor roll (Week 6). Heim played a key role for SMU in leading the conference in team hitting percentage (.279) and was the league leader in assists per set with 12.43; registered 39 assists and seven digs in a sweep at East Carolina (Oct. 1) and logged 48 assists and 11 digs in four sets at Cincinnati (Oct. 3).
The Mustangs were picked to finish third in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Jacobs was named to the AAC Week 1 Honor Roll after posting the second-most points per set (4.35) in the conference during a 2-1 SMU weekend; hit .611 with 13 kills in a sweep of Pacific (Aug. 27) and added 11 kills on .400 hitting later in the day against Stephen F. Austin (Aug. 27).
Jacobs and Lily Heim were named to the All-Tournament team after a stellar opening weekend. Lily Heim was later named to the Bluejay Invitational All-Tournament team.
ALL-TIME SERIES
USF (10-4)
SMU has won six of the last seven meetings against the Bulls. The Mustangs have pulled off three straight 3-1 wins over USF.
SMU took down South Florida in four sets (25-16, 25-19, 23-25, 25-16) in the first meeting this season. Three Mustangs notched 12 kills on the day (Jacobs, Winkler, and Glover). The Mustangs hit .336 and came away with 22 block assists along with six service aces to take down the Bulls.
UCF (14-10)
The Knights have had the upper hand in the last four meetings. UCF has beaten SMU 3-1 twice and 3-0 three times in this span. SMU's last win over the Knights came on October 8, 2017.
The Knights won the first meeting this season in three sets (25-22, 25-23, 25-17), but the Mustangs made UCF earn it. This match included 27 tie scores and 11 lead changes. UCF (15-6, 8-1 AAC) hit .369 and had a solid evening from McKenna Melville who finished with 20 kills and 10 digs. Jacobs led SMU with 12 kills.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS
USF
Marta Cvitkovic leads the Bulls with 291 kills and ranks ninth in the league in kills per set (3.06).
Freshmen Tizi Puljiz (191) and Amanda DeWitt (167) rank second and third, respectively, on the team in kills. Amiree Hendricks-Walker has tallied 136 kills and has a team-best 83 blocks. Allly Barnhart (70) and Puljiz (67) are second and third in blocks.
The Bulls rank fourth in the AAC in blocks/set (2.12) and are third at the service line with 1.54 aces/set.Â
UCF
The Knights had another undefeated weekend after defeating both Cincinnati and East Carolina to extend their win streak to a nine.
 Anne-Marie Watson was named the AAC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time in her career after posting 29 kills and hitting .522. She also notched 10 total blocks, including two block solos.
 UCF found itself back in the top-20 in the NCAA RPI after moving up one spot from last week to reach No. 20.
DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Heim | 37 assists, 12 digs vs. North Carolina
Heim | 46 assists, 12 digs at Rice
Bauss | 12 kills, 14 digs at TCU
Bauss | 11 kills, 11 digs vs. Memphis
Heim | 29 assists, 10 digs vs. Memphis
Bauss | 11 kills, 11 digs vs. Temple
Heim | 43 assists, 14 digs. vs. Temple
Bauss | 10 kills, 4 digs at ECU
Heim | 48 assists, 11 digs at Cincinnati
Heim | 40 assists, 14 digs vs. Tulsa
Wheeler |16 kills, 10 digs vs. Wichita State
Hemsley | 41 assists, 21 digs vs. USF
Hemsley | 41 assists, 16 digs vs. Houston
Hemsley | 51 assists, 17 digs vs. Tulane
Bauss | 12 kills, 10 digs vs. Cincinnati
Bauss | 10 kills, 18 digs vs. ECU
Bauss | 11 kills, 18 digs vs. Memphis
Hemsley | 47 assists, 15 digs vs. Memphis
Bauss | 12 kills, 14 digs vs. Temple
Hemsley | 23 assists, 10 digs vs. Temple
BOLD: Big Opportunities Live in Dallas
As part of its goal of Shaping Champions and preparing students for life, SMU Athletics proudly announces the addition of its BOLD (Big Opportunities Live in Dallas) Program to its suite of student-athlete development tools, with the goal of helping student-athletes navigate and capitalize on new Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) legislation. BOLD will provide SMU student-athletes with the means to navigate the evolving NIL landscape. The BOLD program will incorporate INFLCR, a comprehensive NIL education and compliance solution, and campus resources from the Cox School of Business, the Dedman School of Law, and the Meadows School of the Arts.
ANOTHER MILESTONE
With the victory over Tulane on March 5, 2021, Head Coach Lisa Seifert moved up the rankings and is now second all-time - across all sports - in wins at SMU.
1. Rhonda Rompola (Women's Basketball) 439
2 Lisa Seifert (Volleyball) 436
3. Carl Neufeld (Men's Tennis) 420
26TH SEASON
SMU is in its 26th season of NCAA competition. The SMU volleyball program was started in 1995 by current head coach Lisa Seifert. The Mustangs went 7-24 in 1996, its inaugural season. In 1999, SMU celebrated its first winning season with a 20-13 record. The Mustangs have played in the Western Athletic Conference, Conference USA and the American Athletic Conference.
Of the 11 current members, SMU is the only program without a losing record in league matches during at least one season. The Mustangs and UCF are the only two programs with multiple conference titles. (SMU-2015, 2016; UCF-2014, 2018, 2019, 2020).
FILLING THE TROPHY CASE
Over the past seven seasons, SMU has added four team trophies to the case, along with seven individual top league awards. SMU won The American championship in 2015 and 2016, and the west division crown in 2019. Avery Acker was named Setter of the Year in 2013. She added Player of the Year and another Setter of the Year in 2015. Kendall Patterson was Freshman of the Year in 2016, when Morgan Heise earned her second Libero of the Year honor. Heim was named Setter of the Year in 2019.
UP NEXT
SMU will host Tulane on Friday, November 19 at 7:00 p.m. The Mustangs will then celebrate Senior Day on Sunday, November 21 against Houston at 1:00 p.m. Both matches can be streamed on ESPN+.
Â
Tampa, Florida| The Corral
Thursday, November 11, 2021 – 4:00 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats
Â
SMU (13-11, 9-5 AAC) at UCF (20-6, 13-1 AAC)
Orlando, Florida | The Venue At UCF
Saturday, November 13, 2021 – 11:00 a.m. CT
TV:Â ESPN+
Live Stats
SMU NOTES (PDF)
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Mobile App | Google Play | Apple App Store
Â
PREVIEW
SMU will wrap up its four-game road trip this week as the Mustangs travel to USF on Thursday, November 11 at 4:00 p.m. CT. On Saturday, November 13, SMU will then turn its attention to the conference leader, UCF beginning at 11:00 a.m. CT. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
SMU NOTES
The Mustangs are coming off a 1-1 American Athletic Conference road weekend after falling 1-3 to Memphis before taking care of Temple 3-1 in Philadelphia.
Hannah Jacobs and Lily Heim hit major milestones on October 31 vs. ECU. Jacobs joined the 1,000 kills club, while Heim secured her 3,000th career assist.
Jacobs leads the Mustangs with 273 kills. Rachel Woulfe ranks second on the team with 264 kills. Lily Heim leads the team with 657 assists. Bria' Merchant and Makayla Miller rank first and second in digs with 323 and 245, respectively.
Kaylyn Winkler was the latest Mustang to be named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll. Winkler earned consecutive weekly awards after a big home weekend against Cincinnati and ECU, before continuing to be a force up front against Memphis and Temple. Winkler ranked second in The American with 1.50 blocks per set and led the league with 12 total blocks during a 1-1 SMU road swing; turned in six block assists at Memphis (Nov. 3) before finishing the week with seven kills, two digs and six blocks (one solo) in a win at Temple (Nov. 7).
SMU currently sits in a tie for third-place with Wichita State and Cincinnati in the AAC with an 9-5 league record. The Mustangs only trail Houston (11-3) and UCF (13-1).
Merchant was selected to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll on Oct. 25. Merchant finished third in The American with 4.43 digs for 1-1 SMU; tallied 14 digs and three assists in three sets against UCF (Oct. 22) and contributed 17 digs, two aces and four assists in a four-set win over South Florida (Oct. 24).
Woulfe turned in a signature performance and was named AAC Offensive Player of the Week in a 2-0 in Week 8. Woulfe hit .464 with 15 kills in a win at Houston on Oct. 15 and added 22 kills on .413 hitting in five sets at Tulane on Oct. 17 to earn conference offensive player of the week honors.
Winkler ranks fourth in the league with 1.13 blocks/set against conference opponents. Alex Glover (.378) and Winkler (.371) rank third and fourth, respectively in hitting percentage in the American.
Alex Glover earned the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week (Week 6). Glover continued a recent run of good form for a 1-1 weekend, leading The American with 1.71 blocks per set and finishing second with a .481 hitting percentage among all conference players. Glover hit an impressive .667 with eight kills and five total blocks (one solo) in a sweep of East Carolina on Oct. 1. Glover turned in seven kills and a .333 hitting percentage with three digs and seven block assists in four sets at Cincinnati on Oct. 3.
Heim was named to the AAC Weekly honor roll (Week 6). Heim played a key role for SMU in leading the conference in team hitting percentage (.279) and was the league leader in assists per set with 12.43; registered 39 assists and seven digs in a sweep at East Carolina (Oct. 1) and logged 48 assists and 11 digs in four sets at Cincinnati (Oct. 3).
The Mustangs were picked to finish third in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Jacobs was named to the AAC Week 1 Honor Roll after posting the second-most points per set (4.35) in the conference during a 2-1 SMU weekend; hit .611 with 13 kills in a sweep of Pacific (Aug. 27) and added 11 kills on .400 hitting later in the day against Stephen F. Austin (Aug. 27).
Jacobs and Lily Heim were named to the All-Tournament team after a stellar opening weekend. Lily Heim was later named to the Bluejay Invitational All-Tournament team.
ALL-TIME SERIES
USF (10-4)
SMU has won six of the last seven meetings against the Bulls. The Mustangs have pulled off three straight 3-1 wins over USF.
SMU took down South Florida in four sets (25-16, 25-19, 23-25, 25-16) in the first meeting this season. Three Mustangs notched 12 kills on the day (Jacobs, Winkler, and Glover). The Mustangs hit .336 and came away with 22 block assists along with six service aces to take down the Bulls.
UCF (14-10)
The Knights have had the upper hand in the last four meetings. UCF has beaten SMU 3-1 twice and 3-0 three times in this span. SMU's last win over the Knights came on October 8, 2017.
The Knights won the first meeting this season in three sets (25-22, 25-23, 25-17), but the Mustangs made UCF earn it. This match included 27 tie scores and 11 lead changes. UCF (15-6, 8-1 AAC) hit .369 and had a solid evening from McKenna Melville who finished with 20 kills and 10 digs. Jacobs led SMU with 12 kills.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS
USF
Marta Cvitkovic leads the Bulls with 291 kills and ranks ninth in the league in kills per set (3.06).
Freshmen Tizi Puljiz (191) and Amanda DeWitt (167) rank second and third, respectively, on the team in kills. Amiree Hendricks-Walker has tallied 136 kills and has a team-best 83 blocks. Allly Barnhart (70) and Puljiz (67) are second and third in blocks.
The Bulls rank fourth in the AAC in blocks/set (2.12) and are third at the service line with 1.54 aces/set.Â
UCF
The Knights had another undefeated weekend after defeating both Cincinnati and East Carolina to extend their win streak to a nine.
 Anne-Marie Watson was named the AAC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time in her career after posting 29 kills and hitting .522. She also notched 10 total blocks, including two block solos.
 UCF found itself back in the top-20 in the NCAA RPI after moving up one spot from last week to reach No. 20.
DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Heim | 37 assists, 12 digs vs. North Carolina
Heim | 46 assists, 12 digs at Rice
Bauss | 12 kills, 14 digs at TCU
Bauss | 11 kills, 11 digs vs. Memphis
Heim | 29 assists, 10 digs vs. Memphis
Bauss | 11 kills, 11 digs vs. Temple
Heim | 43 assists, 14 digs. vs. Temple
Bauss | 10 kills, 4 digs at ECU
Heim | 48 assists, 11 digs at Cincinnati
Heim | 40 assists, 14 digs vs. Tulsa
Wheeler |16 kills, 10 digs vs. Wichita State
Hemsley | 41 assists, 21 digs vs. USF
Hemsley | 41 assists, 16 digs vs. Houston
Hemsley | 51 assists, 17 digs vs. Tulane
Bauss | 12 kills, 10 digs vs. Cincinnati
Bauss | 10 kills, 18 digs vs. ECU
Bauss | 11 kills, 18 digs vs. Memphis
Hemsley | 47 assists, 15 digs vs. Memphis
Bauss | 12 kills, 14 digs vs. Temple
Hemsley | 23 assists, 10 digs vs. Temple
BOLD: Big Opportunities Live in Dallas
As part of its goal of Shaping Champions and preparing students for life, SMU Athletics proudly announces the addition of its BOLD (Big Opportunities Live in Dallas) Program to its suite of student-athlete development tools, with the goal of helping student-athletes navigate and capitalize on new Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) legislation. BOLD will provide SMU student-athletes with the means to navigate the evolving NIL landscape. The BOLD program will incorporate INFLCR, a comprehensive NIL education and compliance solution, and campus resources from the Cox School of Business, the Dedman School of Law, and the Meadows School of the Arts.
ANOTHER MILESTONE
With the victory over Tulane on March 5, 2021, Head Coach Lisa Seifert moved up the rankings and is now second all-time - across all sports - in wins at SMU.
1. Rhonda Rompola (Women's Basketball) 439
2 Lisa Seifert (Volleyball) 436
3. Carl Neufeld (Men's Tennis) 420
26TH SEASON
SMU is in its 26th season of NCAA competition. The SMU volleyball program was started in 1995 by current head coach Lisa Seifert. The Mustangs went 7-24 in 1996, its inaugural season. In 1999, SMU celebrated its first winning season with a 20-13 record. The Mustangs have played in the Western Athletic Conference, Conference USA and the American Athletic Conference.
Of the 11 current members, SMU is the only program without a losing record in league matches during at least one season. The Mustangs and UCF are the only two programs with multiple conference titles. (SMU-2015, 2016; UCF-2014, 2018, 2019, 2020).
FILLING THE TROPHY CASE
Over the past seven seasons, SMU has added four team trophies to the case, along with seven individual top league awards. SMU won The American championship in 2015 and 2016, and the west division crown in 2019. Avery Acker was named Setter of the Year in 2013. She added Player of the Year and another Setter of the Year in 2015. Kendall Patterson was Freshman of the Year in 2016, when Morgan Heise earned her second Libero of the Year honor. Heim was named Setter of the Year in 2019.
UP NEXT
SMU will host Tulane on Friday, November 19 at 7:00 p.m. The Mustangs will then celebrate Senior Day on Sunday, November 21 against Houston at 1:00 p.m. Both matches can be streamed on ESPN+.
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Players Mentioned
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Libero
/ Volleyball
Libero
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ VolleyballTuesday, October 06
Tuesday, October 06
Tuesday, October 06
Tuesday, October 06
