Final Match Book | Updated Season Stats | Updated AAC Only Stats | Updated Career Stats
GREENVILLE, N.C. – SMU sank ECU in straight sets (25-13, 25-19, 25-) at Minges Coliseum Sunday.
The Mustangs wrapped their first trip around the American Athletic Conference with a mark of 8-2, while the Pirates dropped to 8-14 on the campaign, including 3-7 in league action.
SMU cruised to a convincing win in the opening set, converting 50% of its attacks, while holding the home side to .077. Knotted at 4-4,
Natalie Perdue slammed home a winner and the Mustangs outscored ECU 20-9 to close out game one.
Celia Cullen and
Casey Batenhorst confused the defense, delivering sets all over the court, with six-different players recording kills.
The Pirates hung tough through the middle portion of the second game, owning a 12-11 advantage until
Marieke van der Mark found a hole in the defense, evening sparking a 14-7 run by SMU. After the home side staved off two set points,
Alex Glover fooled the defense with an off-speed attack that dropped between four defenders for the clincher. a pair of Alex.
ECU held a 15-14 margin at the media break in set three, but the Pirates failed to close out the Mustangs.
Rachel Woulfe and van der Mark delivered successful attacks on back-to-back rallies, culminating in the final lead change of the contest. Trailing 24-17, the Pirates fended off a pair of match points, before van der Mark flung her 14
th kill off a defender and out of bounds.
TEAM RECORDS AND SERIES NOTES TEAM NOTES
- SMU improved to 15-7 overall, including 8-2 in The American, while ECU fell to 8-14, 3-7.
- The Mustangs lead the all-time series 18-5, with a 9-3 mark in The Tar Heel State.
- SMU extended their winning streak to four against the Pirates.
- The Mustangs won their third in a row at Minges Coliseum.
TEAM RECORDS
- SMU registered its sixth win away from Moody Coliseum in succession.
- The Mustangs last road loss occurred at Texas Tech Sept. 15.
- The Mustangs improved to 12-1 after winning the first set and 10-0 when taking the first two.
- This was the sixth sweep for SMU this season.
- SMU hit .333 (47-12-105), while ECU converted on .188 (31-13-96) of its attempts.
- In five of the last six matches, The Mustangs held their opponents below .200
- They are 10-2 when hitting .250 or higher and 9-1 when holding opponents below .200.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Graduate transfer OPP Marieke van der Mark delivered a game-high 15 kills, with four blocks.
- This is her 25th-career performance with double-digit kills, including 10 as a Mustang.
- Sophomore OH Natalie Perdue tallied 17 digs, one off her career best.
- She recorded 18 in Friday's win at Temple.
- Sophomore OH Jamison Wheeler served three aces, matching her career high with nine digs and seven kills.
- Senior OH Rachel Woulfe tabulated seven kills on 13 swings, without an error.
- Graduate transfer London Austin-Roark converted 5-of-6 swings, with zero miscues.
- She added three blocks and three digs.
- Senior OH Alex Glover hit .556 (6-1-9), with a pair of rejections.
- Junior S Celia Cullen tallied 23 assists, eight digs and a season-high three service aces.
- Freshman S Casey Batenhorst handed out 17 helpers, with two digs and an ace.
UP NEXT
The Mustangs conclude the road swing at Memphis Wednesday at 1 p.m.
