SMU volleyball was back in action this weekend, opening the season with three back-to-back wins for the first time since the 2007 season. The Mustangs swept in the four-team Holiday Inn and Suites Baylor Classic with some outstanding play from key contributors.
The Mustangs defeated the Butler Bulldogs 4-1 in the first match of the Baylor Classic on Friday afternoon. Outside hitters Dana Powell and Kathryn Wilkerson both notched double-doubles in the Mustangs’ season opening win.
SMU gained momentum early by taking the first set 25-16. Baylor tied the match by winning the second set 25-18. The Mustangs retook the lead with a 25-18 win in the third set and dominated the fourth set 25-10.
Powell, who was named to the 2010 Conference USA Preseason Team, finished with 14 kills and 12 digs for SMU. Wilkerson tallied 11 kills, 12 digs and two aces. Outside hitter Jessica Oliver added nine kills and two service aces to the Mustangs’ victory.
The Mustangs dedicated the game in memory of Chemine Peters, the mother of former player Natalie Peters and current team manager Blake Peters, who lost her brave battle against cancer on Aug. 20.
The SMU Mustangs faced the Baylor Bears early Saturday in their second game of the tournament. They earned a huge victory over Baylor in five sets for the first time in the history of SMU’s volleyball program.
The Bears took the first set 25-15. The Mustangs tied the match behind setter Kelli Becerra’s 16 assists and five kills in the second set, 25-23. Baylor narrowly won the third set 25-23. SMU responded by taking the fourth set and tying the match 25-22. With the match on the line, SMU never trailed in the fifth set and scored the final six straight points to earn the victory, 15-6.
The Mustangs finished the weekend undefeated after winning their last match of the Baylor Classic against Stephen F. Austin 3-0. The match was close, but the Mustangs came out on top, winning the first set 25-21. SMU rallied in the second set, winning 25-19, and closed out the match with a 6-1 run to win score of 25-19.
Wilkerson notched her second double-double of the season with 16 digs and 11 kills, while Powell narrowly missed her third-straight double-double, finishing with 13 kills and nine digs. Becerra led the team in assists with 45, and Junior Sidney Stewart led the team in digs for the second-consecutive match.
The Mustangs will try to maintain their perfect record this weekend as they host the Doubletree Invitational at Moody Coliseum.
