DALLAS (SMU) – For the first time in program history, SMU volleyball is headed to the Sweet Sixteen after sweeping Florida (16-12) in the Round of 32 on Saturday with set scores of 25-11, 25-21, 26-24.    

With the win, SMU won its 27th match of the season, tying the program record for single-season wins. It also gave coach Sam Erger her 100th victory at SMU and in her Division I head coaching career.    

Averi Carlson dished out 38 assists, the most in a three-setter for the senior setter this season. Carlson led the Mustangs to a .370 hitting percentage in the win. Kennedi Rogers went for 14 kills, hitting .440, with four digs and three blocks. Malaya Jones closely trailed Rogers with 13 kills, eight digs and seven blocks, tying her career high.   

SMU out-blocked the Gators 15-4, spearheaded by a career-high nine blocks from freshman Maggie Croft. The Mustangs' blocking efforts helped hold the Gators to a .156 hitting percentage for the match.  
 
MATCH NOTES        

• With 13 kills against Florida, Jones (503) is now the second player in SMU Volleyball history to reach 500 kills in a season. She joins Rachel Giubilato, who notched 568 kills in 2006.    
• Averi Carlson (1,341) moved to third in the rally scoring era and sixth all-time for single-season assists at SMU.    
• Jones reached the double-digit kill mark for the 26th time this season and for the ninth straight match.   
• Rogers recorded double-digit kills for the sixth time this season.       
• It marked Schilling's 22nd time in double-figures this season and her fifth straight.
• With six blocks against the Gators, Anyanwu draws within 14 of breaking the program record for most blocks in a season. (188 by Janelle Giordano in 2015)   
• SMU had double-digit blocks (15) for the 17th time this season and for the second straight match.    
• SMU has won 20 of its last 21 matches and its 12th straight.       
• The Mustangs end the 2025 season with 15 wins at Moody Coliseum, tying the program record for most in a season.    
• The win marks the Mustangs' 15th sweep, 11th at home this season.  

HOW IT HAPPENED:       
SMU controlled the first set from start to finish in all phases of the game. SMU hit .483 with no errors on 29 swings in the first, while holding Florida to a .000 hitting percentage. Rogers put in five kills to lead the Mustangs, who got point production from six different players to help propel them to a 25-11 set one victory. SMU commanded the net with a 5-0 advantage in blocks.    

Down four (16-12) in the second frame, SMU responded with five straight points on a run that included two aces from Madison Scheer. After trading points, SMU went on a 4-0 run to pull away in the frame. The Mustangs went on to win the frame 25-21.    

Tied 20-20 entering the red zone of the third set, SMU got the first two points on an ace from Carlson and a block from the freshman tandem of Rogers and Croft. Despite a 3-1 run by Florida that put the Gators at set point first, the Mustangs responded with three straight to close the match, ending the frame with their sixth block of the set to win 26-24.    

SMU LEADERS:         
SMU Kills Leader: Kennedi Rogers (14)   
SMU Assists Leader: Averi Carlson (38)     
SMU Digs Leader: Jordyn Schilling (11)   
SMU Blocks Leader: Maggie Croft (9)   
SMU Ace Leader: Madison Scheer (2)   
SMU Points Leader: Malaya Jones (17.5)     
  
Up Next: SMU will get a rematch with No. 3 seed Purdue in the NCAA Regional Semifinal on Thursday evening in Pittsburgh, Pa.