DALLAS (SMU) – SMU sailed past Temple in straight-sets (25-10, 25-17, 25-21) in American Athletic Conference action at Moody Coliseum Sunday.

The Mustangs trailed just once and held the Owls to a zero hitting percentage, improving to 20-8 on the season, including 13-3 in league play. Temple dropped to 10-17, 4-12.

SMU ran out to a 5-1 advantage in the first set tallied the final nine points to gain the early 1-0 advantage.

In set two, the Owls tallied the first point but an 8-2 run by the home side pushed the margin out to 8-3. Temple closed to within one at 12-11 but netted 13 of the final 19 points, opening a 2-0 cushion at the intermission.

Temple managed to keep the Mustangs within striking distance in game three, closing a 12-5 deficit down to three on several occasions, including at 16-13. Once again, the Mustangs slammed the door shut, claiming nine of the final 17 winners, securing their third sweep in a row.
 

SMU Kills Leader: Austin-Roark, Wheeler (7)

SMU Assist Leader: Cullen (36)

SMU Digs Leader: Ticknor (14)

SMU Blocks Leader: Glover (5)

SMU Ace Leader: Wheeler (3)

TEAM RECORDS AND SERIES NOTES

SMU improved to 20-8 overall, including 13-3 in the league, while the Owls dropped to 10-17, 4-12.

·       The Mustangs lead the all-time series 10-7, with a 7-2 mark at home.

o   SMU won its sixth-straight match in the series, with four in a row in Moody Coliseum.

o   Temple last defeated the Mustangs Nov. 9, 2017, a five-set decision in Dallas.

·       SMU improved to 4-2-4 against the Owls in season series, including 4-1-4 as AAC foes.

TEAM RECORDS AND NOTES

·       The 10 points in set one is the fewest allowed by the Mustangs this season.

·       SMU achieved 20 wins for the ninth time in the program's 27-year history.

o   This is the first 20-win campaign since 2017, the last of five straight years with 20 wins.

·       The Mustangs reached 20 wins for the sixth time in 10 seasons as a member of The American.

·       The 13 wins against AAC foes is the seventh-most in a single campaign.

o   SMU finished with a record of .500 or better in league play 17 times, including every year in the AAC.

o   The last time the Mustangs finished below .500 in league play occurred in 2012, their last season as a member of Conference USA.

·       In the last 10 SMU wins, the Mustangs earned eight sweeps, including the last six.

·       All 13 available Mustang recorded at least one kill, dig, assist, ace or block.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

·       Senior MB London Austin-Roark totaled seven kills, four blocks, three digs and an ace.

·       Sophomore OH Jamison Wheeler tallied seven kills, four digs, and three service aces.

o   Wheeler moved into fifth place on the program's single-season list, with 41.

·       Sophomore OH Natalie Perdue recorded six kills, six digs and one block.

·       Senior MB Alex Glover hit .667, with six kills on nine swings, with five blocks and a dig.

·       Graduate transfer OPP Marieke van der Mark totaled five kills, three blocks and three digs.

·       Junior S Celia Cullen filled the stat sheet with 36 assists, six digs, two kills, a block and an ace.

·       Donning the libero jersey, graduate transfer Tatum Ticknor finished with 14 digs, five assists and an ace.

·       Senior OH Jadyn Bauss netted eight digs, four kills and two blocks.

·       Senior OH Rachel Woulfe netted three kills and a block.

·       Sophomore MB Kaitlyn Knobbe tallied a kill.

·       Freshman S Casey Batenhorst tallied an ace.

·       Freshman OH Jentry Lamirand added three digs and dropped in an ace.

           ·       Junior DS BreyAnn Sands chipped in with four digs.

UP NEXT                                                                                                                                         

The Mustangs make their final road trip of the regular season, beginning with a 6:30 p.m., first serve at Tulane Friday.