#10 SMU (0-0, 0-0 ACC) at LSU (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
Friday, Aug. 29 • 7 p.m. CT

Pete Maravich Assembly Center • Baton Rouge, La. • SEC Network+
Watch • Live Stats • Match Notes • SMU Mobile App

#10 SMU (0-0, 0-0 ACC) vs. #20 Baylor (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Saturday, Aug. 30 • 3:30 p.m CT

Pete Maravich Assembly Center • Baton Rouge, La.
Live Stats • Match Notes • SMU Mobile App

DALLAS (SMU) - What Jentry Lamirand and her SMU volleyball teammates experienced last season cannot be denied or forgotten. 

During the program's first year of competing in the ACC, the Mustangs placed fourth in the league with a 16-4 conference record, earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, finished ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll for the first time ever and won 25 or more games for just the sixth time in school history. 

But that was then. The focus for Lamirand and her teammates is ahead, not behind them. 

"The best part about last year's wins is that no one can take that away. But at the same time, they don't really have any bearing on this season and the success that we hope to have," Lamirand said. She was selected as a team captain for the second straight year. "Just having those expectations on us, it just gives us another reason to work harder and we have to meet and exceed everyone's expectations this year. I think this is a talented group and we have all the capabilities in the world to do it."

SMU enters the upcoming campaign facing two realities. First, the program has become a known commodity in college volleyball. With back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances to their credit, the Mustangs open 2025 ranked 10th in the AVCA preseason poll and are one of five ACC teams in the top 25.  

The second – those lofty expectations now rest on the shoulders of a talented group that has limited experience together. Of the 17 players on SMU's roster, only four were with the program last fall. Six of the new faces are transfers from other Division I programs, while the other seven are true freshmen. 

Despite limited time together, the group has quickly found a common bond in their passion for the sport. 

"During the spring (scrimmages), I was wondering if we're keeping up with other teams and then realized we were demolishing them. It's been eye-opening to see how amazing this group is on the court," said grad transfer Malaya Jones. "Because I'm not competing against this kind of level that often, for me it was just like, 'Wow, my team is one of the best teams in the country.'"

While the roster might be new, it brings an experienced feel. Almost all of the transfers come in with all-conference accolades from their past schools and three players –  Jones, Averi Carlson and Favor Anyanwu – have been tabbed as preseason All-ACC picks, despite never playing a regular season match in a SMU uniform. 

Add in a talented freshman group that's eager to prove themselves early along with a few steady veterans from last season, and it's a combination that's been fun to watch behind-the-scenes. Now, the Mustangs are eager to show the world. 
"It's super exciting, especially being a setter myself. I think I have so many weapons as hitters and our defense and passing is amazing," Carlson said. 

Added coach Sam Erger: "They've been in battle together, lifting together, and just the process of college athletics is grueling and it bonds you. This group saw what our team did last year and we got a bunch of new girls that are like I would really like to do that same thing."

It all starts on the road this weekend when the Mustangs travel to Baton Rouge, La., for a pair of matches, with LSU on Friday and No. 20 Baylor on Saturday. Over the course of 10 nonconference games, SMU will face six teams that were either ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA preseason poll. 

A newly formed roster. A tough schedule. A sizable load of expectations. The Mustangs come into the year with a lot to navigate. And it's a journey they're excited to take. 

"We know what we want to accomplish and we know how good we are and we want to do anything we can do," said transfer Jordyn Schilling. "I think we're going to shock a lot of people. I think people know we're going to be great, but I don't think people realize how great we can be."