Final Match Book | Updated Season Stats | Updated AAC Only Stats | Updated Career Stats

PHILADELPHIA – SMU extended its winning streak away from Moody Coliseum to five, with a 3-1 (25-22, 25-21, 23-25, 25-14) triumph over Temple Friday at McGonigle Hall.
 
The Mustangs improved to 14-7 overall, including 7-2 in American Athletic Conference action, while the Owls dropped to 8-12, 2-7.
 
Leading 2-1 after three hard-fought sets, SMU steamrolled its way past the Owls in game four. The Mustangs rattled off two runs of at least six points in succession, compiling their largest gap of the contest and securing the deciding clinching game by 11 points.
 
Fueled by a six-point rally in the second set, SMU utilized a 14-4 run and snatched control at two sets to none. Poised to knot the match at 1-1, the Owls built a 17-11 cushion but failed to close out the game.
 
Facing a similar deficit in game three, the Mustangs rallied once again but Temple staved off the sweep. Behind by four at 19-15, Jamison Wheeler trimmed the margin to one at 20-19 but SMU failed to pull even. After withstanding a challenge by SMU on set point, which went in favor of the Owls, secured the two-point result.
 
SMU outlasted Temple in the opening set, with both sides answering the other swing for swing. The guests converted three more more opportunities than the home side. Knotted 17-17, Natalie Perdue registered an ace and three kills, the final giving her side set point. Rachel Woulfe slammed home the winner on the next rally.
 
TEAM RECORDS AND SERIES NOTES TEAM NOTES

• SMU improved to 14-7 overall, including 7-2 in The American, while Temple fell to 8-12, 2-7.
• The Mustangs lead the all-time series 9-7 and extended their winning streak to five against the Owls.
• SMU moved to 3-4 as the visitor, with its last loss at Temple Oct. 17, 2022.

TEAM RECORDS

• SMU registered its fifth win away from Moody Coliseum in succession.
  • The Mustangs last road loss occurred at Texas Tech Sept. 15.
• The Mustangs improved to 11-1 after winning the first set and 10-0 when going up two sets to none.
• SMU hit .253 (63-23-158), improving to 9-2 when hitting .250 or higher and 9-1 when holding opponents below .200.
• The Mustangs held Temple to a .087 hitting percentage (33-20-150).
  • It is the third lowest hitting percentage by a Mustangs' opponent this season.
  • This is the second-consecutive match SMU held the opposition below .100 and fifth below .150.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Sophomore OH Natalie Perdue recorded her sixth double-double with a career-high 18 digs and 14 kills.
  • She added two blocks and two assists.
• Sophomore OH Jamison Wheeler notched her ninth double-double, with 11 digs, 10 kills and adding an ace.
  • It is the ninth double-double of the season - a team high - and her 11th-career double-double.
• Donning the libero jersey, graduate transfer Tatum Ticknor posted 13 digs and 11 assists.
  • She recorded her 111th-career game with 10 or more digs and her fourth career double-double.
• Junior S Celia Cullen finished with 24 assists, 18 digs and an ace.
  • The 18 digs established a new career high.
  • This is her 11th-career double-double, including five this season.
• Freshman S Casey Batenhorst posted her second-career double-double with 21 assists and 10 digs.
• Graduate transfer MB London Austin-Roark hit .545 (7-1-11), with four blocks, three digs, two aces and an assist.
• Graduate transfer OPP Marieke van der Mark netted 12 kills, four blocks - including two solo, with three digs.
• Senior OH Rachel Woulfe contributed eight kills, seven digs and two blocks.
• Senior MB Alex Glover accounted for nine kills and three blocks.
• Senior OH Jadyn Bauss chipped in with two kills, one service ace and one block.
• Junior DS BreyAnn Sands added a dig.

 
UP NEXT                                                                                                                                                       
The Mustangs continue the road trip in Greenville, N.C., when they take on East Carolina at 11 a.m. central time Sunday.