After defeating LSU in the morning, SMU Volleyball couldn’t topple Texas A&M, the reigning NCAA champions, in its second game of the Dallas Power Invite on Saturday, April 18.
Both Jadyn Livings and BYU transfer Suli Davis were out with injuries, leaving Gabi Placide and Favor Anyanwu to carry the weight offensively against the Aggies. SMU played Texas A&M earlier in the spring, winning a set apiece for a 1-1 draw on April 11.
SMU hosted three other schools as part of the third annual Dallas Power Invite, a round robin tournament inside Moody Coliseum. Oklahoma was the tournament’s fourth team, but did not have a game scheduled against SMU. The Mustangs bested LSU 2-1, but lost to Texas A&M by the same score. SMU lost the first two sets 25-17 and 25-23, ultimately salvaging the third 25-23.
Placide led both squads with 12 kills, also contributing an ace and four digs. Anyanwu had 10 kills and four blocks, and Wilburn matched middle blocker Natalia Newsome with six kills. Libero Victoria Harris had a solid 11-dig game, as did setter Hannah Beauford, who had 20 assists and eight digs.
With Livings and Davis inactive, Beauford and fellow setter Ava Sarafa stead directed passes to Placide, Anyanwu and freshman Christa Wilburn.
“We were down a few players and doing some different things,” SMU Head Coach Sam Erger said. “So I’m really proud of our setters. We’ve been able to manage that and that’s challenging.”
The Mustangs struggled to get things going in set one, largely in part to the brick wall formed by Aggies Eliza Sharp, Kaia Castle and Taryn Morris. Sharp led the game with eight blocks.
12 total service errors created an added barrier for SMU, as the Mustangs committed five in the first set alone. The Mustangs fell behind early in set two as well, but after tying the score at 11, the Mustangs claimed their first lead of the match on Sarafa’s lone kill.
Sarafa, a spring transfer from Kentucky, had just two kills her freshman year. She has quickly become a notable contributor for SMU over the spring season, accumulating nine assists on Saturday.
“I just have so much love for this school already,” Sarafa said. “This is a family, and the culture is absolutely amazing.”
Despite a 22-20 advantage, SMU couldn’t take set two. The Aggies charged back to win 25-23, securing a victory in the shortened spring match. Avoiding the sweep, SMU’s steady improvement across the first two sets materialized in a set three win. Placide hammered her way through the Aggie wall for several kills.
Texas A&M tied the set at 14 and again at 23, but the Mustangs held firm. Anyanwu blasted back-to-back kills for the final two points of the match.
“As the match went on, I felt we dialed in there,” Erger said. “You can see what a competitive match this was in sets two and three: 25-23, 25-23. It could have gone either way.”
Despite the loss, Erger and several players expressed optimism about the game’s results and the upcoming fall season.
“Obviously, as a team we have some things we need to work on, but I think that honestly as we keep working we’re going to be on the right track to be successful,” Beauford said.
The Mustangs expect to have both Livings and Davis back in time for the fall season, during which SMU will have the opportunity to face the Aggies yet again. SMU has two more spring games against TCU and Baylor, but Sarafa and her teammates are eagerly anticipating the regular-season competition.
“I think that it’s two talented teams on both sides of the net,” Sarafa said. “Even if they won the national championship, every team has to prove something. New challenge, new year, new season.”
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct a mispelling of Ava Sarafa’s last name.
