DALLAS – Celia Cullen came to SMU for moments like 2023. 

A conference title. A 20-win season. An appearance in the NCAA Tournament, complete with a first-round win. A championship ring. Recognition as the league's Setter of the Year. All of it added up to make for a memorable year, one that she and her teammates will cherish forever. 

And, even as SMU's world shifts, it's a moment she intends to replicate in 2024. 

"I think last season was extremely important. I think the experience, especially in the NCAA Tournament, now that we have that under our belt a little bit, it's like we've done it before; we know what it's like," the graduate student said. "I think we're all just looking forward to getting to that point again, and I think that just excites us and motivates us even more because it was so much fun. We got a small taste, and we're ready for more."

SMU's historic campaign ended with 26 wins, tied for the second most in school history, while bulldozing through the American Athletic Conference with an 18-1 mark. The Mustangs earned a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament and beat Texas State in the opening round, the program's second postseason victory ever. 

A year later, the situation is vastly different. 

In July, SMU officially joined the Atlantic Coast Conference along with Stanford and Cal. The 18-team league features seven programs that participated in the NCAA Tournament last year, including semifinalist Pittsburgh. 

Along with a stacked conference slate, SMU's non conference schedule features seven teams that made the NCAA field in 2023, including national runner-up Nebraska. The Cornhuskers visit Moody Coliseum for the Mustangs' home-opener on September 3. 

To outsiders, the challenge might appear daunting. Third-year coach Sam Erger wants this to feel like the status quo, and she believes she has the talent to embrace the new landscape. With nine players on the roster who are either seniors or graduate students, the Mustangs have a wealth of experience and depth. 

Erger calls the group "probably the most talented team SMU volleyball has ever fielded," a bold statement but one she firmly believes in. The group brings poise and understanding to the court, something they'll need to navigate what's ahead. 

"There's no one-offs here. We want to step up to the plate alongside the rest of the city and say Dallas is the place to be. The ACC is a premier conference, and big-time college athletics are happening night in and night out here," Erger said. "We do not want to be viewed as some anomaly when there's a big-time game here – that's the norm now. That's what we're doing here. That's what you're going to find in Dallas, and that's what you're going to find at SMU."

While none of SMU's individual players received preseason recognition on the All-ACC team, collectively, the Mustangs were picked to finish sixth in the league. 

As the new addition to one of the country's most prestigious conferences, a sixth-place finish might sound good to fans. But this team wants more. 

With veteran play, momentum, and a lot of confidence in their corner, the Mustangs are striving for something bigger. And they're eager for the road to get there. 

"I think we're all kind of on the same page of what we want to do this coming season," said graduate student Natalie Perdue. "I think we know what we're capable of, and we set a high standard for ourselves individually and as a team, and I think we're prepared for that."