The No. 10 SMU volleyball team found something that was missing after back-to-back losses to fourth-ranked Pittsburgh.

The Mustangs knew they needed to improve on defense, both in scheme and in effort. So they went to work. SMU then delivered two of its best defensive performances in victories against Georgia Tech and Clemson.

"We really went to work (last) week on defense," SMU head coach Sam Erger said. "I think we're starting to see some fruit from that. That is where I'm most pleased. I'm so, so happy to see some big-time fruit from that."

The offense is there. Senior setter Averi Carlson is third in the nation with 11.16 assists per set, and the Mustangs are 15th in the nation with a .286 hitting percentage, led by Jadyn Livings and Malaya Jones, who are just under four kills per set.

The defense is what was lacking.

"I think the ticket to this team being great and being unstoppable is defense, because we have so many weapons and we can fire on all cylinders with the best of them," Erger said. "So blocking, serving, backcourt defense has been where we need to grow. The best thing about that is it's very trainable, and we're already seeing fruit there."

Against Clemson, Carlson matched her season high with 14 digs, needing just three sets to do it this time instead of five against Baylor.

"We need to be more disciplined and significantly better defensively," Erger said. "Any match we've lost, that's been the issue. So we sat down as a group, had some heart-to-hearts and talked about where we want to be in November and December."

The Mustangs want to be at the top of the ACC standings and host NCAA tournament matches for the second straight year. In order to do that, they also had to get some of their swagger back.

Some of that comes from the big kills and aces, but it also comes from defense and blocking, like Favor Anyanwu. She is 19th in the country with 1.45 blocks per set.

"I think this team plays so much better when they're playing with some of the swagger that a lot of them naturally have," Erger said. "When Favor's stalking around the court, when Jadyn is taking a big swing or getting a big block and twirling away, it should be fun like that. That is what our sport is about. We want that. We encourage that. Our team plays best when they're playing with that swagger, but we've got to train with that swagger too."

So the Mustangs went to work. They practiced with a purpose to get ready for Georgia Tech and Clemson. Now that they've seen the practice effort turn into big wins on match day, expect more of the same.

"We had an amazing week of practice, so continuing to do that, focusing on the little things," sophomore middle blocker Natalia Newsome said. "We talk about going all-in and giving your everything. So continuing to do that and carry that through the rest of the season."

No matter the opponent — a Pitt team that was picked to win the ACC, is the defending conference champion and reached last year's Final Four while returning the National Player of the Year — or the way they lost — a five-set thriller and a four-set brawl — losing isn't fun.

"(Winning the last two matches was) extremely important, because we were feeling a little low after dropping two to Pitt, a good team," Erger said. "We learned from it, and we want to get better, so to rebound really matters. What matters more is staying in the process and going about our business. We felt like we would get these two dubs if we did that."

The Mustangs didn't wallow. They went to work and bounced back in a big way.

"I think it's easy to get complacent and frustrated when you lose," senior opposite hitter Malaya Jones said. "Obviously, it's a natural emotion, but it was something we weren't OK with, and we wanted to be better for. I was really proud of how we showed up this week. It was some of the best energy and defensive effort we've had all year, and I hope that we continue to sustain that."

Now the Mustangs are taking their defense and rediscovered swagger on the road for four straight matches away from Moody Coliseum. They face Florida State on Friday and then travel to No. 18 Miami on Sunday. SMU will do it again, traveling to No. 5 Louisville and Notre Dame next week.

But this year's team has already faced plenty of challenges and has been successful more often than not.

"We had the second toughest schedule in the country up until this point," Erger said. "So some of these young ones haven't been able to really lean into that swagger. They've been playing with some nerves, with some real urgency to go win some of those games and put us in a good position. Now that we've got some of that under our belt, let's go play and have fun."

And when the Mustangs travel to three states for four matches in 10 days, they do so with a new team motto.

It came from a pregame devotional delivered by former setter and current graduate assistant Celia Cullen. This SMU team doesn't just want a little bit. They want it all.

"The message was, eat the whole apple. Leave nothing," Erger said. "Don't just take a bite out of anything you do, go for it completely. What a message from someone the team respects. (Cullen) walks the talk, so to give that message, I was inspired. I felt like I wanted to run through a brick wall after hearing that. I think we'll be saying that for the rest of the season."