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DALLAS (SMU) – (RV) SMU Volleyball collected their third consecutive sweep in Moody Coliseum, taking down Weber State (1-3) Friday with sets scores of 25-19, 25-16, and 25-15. The Mustangs (4-1) started strong, not trailing at all in the first set, rallying after a five-point early deficit in the second frame, and then dominating again in set three. 

Maya Tabron and Naya Shime each logged 10 kills in the outing. Ellie Bolton led a dominant defensive effort for the Mustangs, with 15 digs, followed by three others, Shime, Tabron, and Celia Cullen, who all at eight digs against the Wildcats.

SMU had a 56-40 edge in digs and a 42-22 in kills while hitting at a .267 clip.

MATCH NOTES:

• In all five matches this season, SMU has held its opponent to a .200 or less hitting percentage.  
• Through five games, the Mustangs are holding opponents to a .129 clip. 
• The Mustangs had yet another solid day in serve receive, finishing with eight aces while allowed two aces with just three errors in 41 reception attempts.
• SMU now has 38 aces this season, led today by Bolton and Tabron with tallied three aces each.
• Bolton's 15 digs were an individual season-high for the Mustangs. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

SET ONE | SMU wasted no time getting in front of Weber State in set one. The Mustangs took a 3-0 advantage to start, two of those points coming on kills from Foster and Tabron. Back-to-back aces from Tabron gave the Mustangs a 7-2 lead. Weber State fought to within three on a block and two kills for a 18-15 score but, the Mustangs answered with five straight, two of them coming from the right arm of Tabron, who had an impressive first set, logging eight kills. The Wildcats rallied with three straight points late, but their deficit in the first set was too much to overcome. Tabron ended the set with another kill to give SMU a 25-19 set one win.

SET TWO | It was the Wildcats that took the early advantage in set two. After the Mustangs earned the sets' first point on another kill from Tabron, Weber State went on a five-point run to take a 5-1 lead. However, SMU didn't let that lead live for long, responding with seven-straight for themselves, in a run that saw production from all over the roster, but was highlighted by back-to-back aces from Ellie Bolton to give the Mustangs a 18-7 lead. SMU would go on to win the second set 25-16, led by Shime who logged five kills in the set.

SET THREE | Weber State took a brief 2-1 lead early. A service error by the Wildcats followed by an ace from the Mustangs even the score before SMU rallied off four-straight. Nnedi Okammor and Jamison Wheeler put away two balls in between two attack errors by Weber State during the stretch. Another run for the Mustangs blew the set wide open. SMU scored five in a row as SMU continued to command the match. The closes Weber State drew was five (17-12) due to a four-point swing, but SMU closed the set out swinging with multiple kills from Okammor, Natalie Perdue, and Jentry Lamirand. Shime and Okammor had four and three kills respectfully in set three as SMU finished the night with a 25-15 win and secure yet another sweep on their home court.
 
SMU LEADERS:
SMU Kills Leader: Naya Shime/Maya Tabron (10)
SMU Assist Leader: Celia Cullen (30)
SMU Digs Leader: Ellie Bolton (15)
SMU Blocks Leader: Natalie Foster (4)
SMU Ace Leader: Ellie Bolton/Maya Tabron (3)

UP NEXT:    
SMU Volleyball will next face LMU in their final matchup of the SMU Doubletree Classic tomorrow, Saturday Sept. 7 at 2 p.m. CT. For all things Mustang Volleyball,  follow the program on Instagram, X, and Facebook.