The SMU volleyball team is riding a seven-match winning streak, the second longest streak in SMU history, as they travel to UTEP and Tulane this weekend to begin conference play.

“We’re confident but we can’t get cocky,” sophomore libero Sidney Stewart said. “There have been games where we came close to losing and we just pulled it out, and we have to stay level headed and keep playing the game we play.”

The Mustangs will open conference play on Sept. 25, when they take on the Miners in El Paso at 7 p.m. SMU is 16-6 all-time against UTEP, but the two teams split their matches last season with each team defending their home turf. UTEP has already started conference play; they played Tulane on Sept. 17 and lost, 3-2, which was the start of a four-game losing streak for the Miners.

“We’re confident but we’re not overlooking anybody,” said Lisa Seifert, head coach of the Mustangs. “We’re not looking at Tulane, we’re looking at UTEP and we’re taking one match at a time. UTEP is a good team; they have two, very good outside hitters that we’re gonna have to slow down. We’re gonna have to play defense and transition well on the backside to win that match.”

SMU will then fly to Louisiana to take on Tulane University, the defending C-USA champions. Tulane’s record is a deceptive 5-4, for they have already faced five teams in the Top 40, and have beaten two of them: LSU and the University of New Mexico. SMU has a 2-8 all time record against Tulane, which includes being swept in both matches last season. “We have a desire to beat them,” said sophomore libero Sidney Stewart. “They were a strong team last year and they’re gonna be a strong team this year, and we want to prove that we’re a team to compete with in this conference. We’re really excited to prove that we’re one of the top teams.”

Sophomore Dana Powell will lead the Mustang attack this weekend. Powell is ranked No. 30 in the nation and No. 1 in C-USA in kills per set, averaging 4.13 digs/set. Defensively, SMU has sophomore Sidney Stewart, who has won back-to-back C-USA Defensive Player of the Week honors. Stewart is averaging 4.14 digs/set, which is currently ranked No. 7 in C-USA.

“It’s going to be important for the rest of the season for the team to do what the team has done,” Seifert said. “But the team has already proven that it can win.”