The SMU women’s volleyball team hosts American Athletic Conference rival University of Houston Friday at 7 p.m. in Dedman Center.

The Houston game marks the halfway point for the Mustangs’ conference play.

The Mustangs and the Cougars are tied in fourth place in the league. Both teams have 5-3 records for conference play after both losing to Temple University, University of Louisville and University of South Florida.

The Mustangs enter Friday’s match ranked No. 2 in hitting percentage, .238, against conference teams.

The Mustangs also rank with 13.45 kills per set and an opponent hitting percentage, .149.

Junior outside hitter Caroline Young leads the team with kills per set (3.46) and is second against conference rivals with 3.72 kills per set. Young ranks in hitting (.344) in league matches as well.

Offensively, Houston ranks in the bottom half of the league, even though first-year Sarita Mikals leads the Cougars with 281 kills and is ranked No. 6 in the conference with 3.35 per set.

The Cougars have a four spot advantage over SMU in conference matches with a No. 5 ranking of 16.70 digs per set.

Both teams are at the top of the league with 43 aces each.

This will be the 22nd time the Mustangs will play the Cougars.

The Cougars have won 11 of the 22 matches; however, they have not had the best luck in Dallas in the recent past.

The Mustangs have won 10 of the last 14 matches against former Conference USA rivals, including five consecutive wins in Dallas.

Following Friday night’s game, the SMU will be back in action the first weekend of November against Rutgers University and the University of Connecticut at home before hitting the road for the majority of their remaining matches.