MILWAUKEE (SMU) – The No. 11-ranked SMU volleyball team opened the 2026 season with a sweep (27-25, 25-19, 25-20) over the reigning national champion and No. 8-ranked Texas A&M Aggies (0-2) Sunday afternoon at the Jeep AVCA First Serve.
Newcomer Suli Davis led the Mustangs with 15 kills. First-year starter and redshirt freshman setter Hannah Beauford ran the show for the Mustangs and dished out 33 assists along with five digs and two blocks. Beauford was named MVP of the match for her performance against the Aggies.
SMU out blocked Texas A&M 13-7, forcing the Aggies to hit .125 as a team.
MATCH NOTES
- The Mustangs improved to 3-0 against the Aggies in the all-time series, with the other victories coming in 2016 and in 2025.
- The win marked the 14th ranked win under head coach Sam Erger at SMU and sixth against a top 10 opponent in the last three seasons.
- The program improved to 20-11 in season openers, 4-1 in the Erger era.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
After a back-and-forth start to the first set, SMU strung together four straight on kills from three different Mustangs and an attack error by the Aggies to go up 10-7. The run forced a timeout, and in response, Texas A&M rallied to within one. That lead held strong until a 4-0 run by the Aggies tied things at 22-all. The Mustangs managed to close out the first set in extras, thanks to a kill from Christa Wilburn and an attack error by the Aggies to win 27-25. Davis led the way for SMU with six kills in the frame, while SMU hit .333 as a unit.
Texas A&M got off to a fast start in the second set, scoring three of the first four points. SMU responded to create a lead of its own midway through, due in large part to a series of blocks starting at the 11-11 mark. SMU logged six blocks in the set, which helped the Mustangs cruise to a 25-19 victory in the second frame and go out 2-0 in the match. The effort at the net forced the Aggies to a –0.031 attack percentage in the second set.
Tied 11-11, the Mustangs put their foot on the gas, sparked by a 5-1 run into the third set media timeout. Despite a last-second effort, the Mustangs closed the door on the Aggies with another strong run to go up 23-17 and ultimately end the match with a five-point win in set three. The third set was the most efficient frame attacking for SMU, as the Mustangs hit .364 to close the match.
SMU LEADERS:
SMU Kills Leader: Suli Davis (15)
SMU Assists Leader: Hannah Beauford (33)
SMU Digs Leader: Victoria Harris (13)
SMU Blocks Leader: Favor Anyanwu (7)
SMU Ace Leaders: Elle Vandeweghe (2)
SMU Points Leader: Suli Davis (15.5)
NEXT UP:
The Mustangs will compete in the Spikes Under the Lights exhibition tournament on Thursday, Aug. 27, with the semifinal matchup against No. 10 Penn State beginning at approximately 8 pm CT from AT&T Stadium.
