The SMU women’s volleyball team went 1-2 in the LMU Four Points Sheraton-LAX Classic this weekend. The Mustangs extended their winning streak to four games when they beat Nevada on Friday night. The win took SMU to 7-1 for the season.
The women defeated the Wolfpack in five games (30-26, 23-30, 30-19, 15-30, 16-14); the first meeting of the two teams proved to be a challenge for each.
Juniors Caitlin Rainbird and Rachel Giubilato each posted double-doubles in their initial tournament appearance. Giubilato posted 17 digs and 18 kills while Rainbird had 18 kills and 18 digs.
She also added a block and two service aces to SMU’s game stats. Rainbird was later named to the All-Tournament team after her performances against LMU and UC-Irvine. Setter Stephanie Kons contributed to SMU’s offense with two blocks, three kills and 54 assists.
SMU got off to a quick start against Nevada in the first game.
Although they didn’t have more than a two-point lead until the end of the game, the Mustangs never fully relinquished control to the Wolfpack. Natalie Peters and Stephanie Kons successfully blocked a shot by Nevada to tie the score at 26-26; SMU won four consecutive points, including two kills from Rainbird to close the game.
The Mustangs failed to dominate in game two, making a string of errors and posting only nine kills. The women battled through three tough games, fighting for every point against Nevada.
The team of Giubilato and Peters lit a fire under the Mustangs to help lead them to a 30-19 win. In game three, SMU had a .400 attack percentage. SMU didn’t close the match until game five in which there were 12 ties and seven lead changes. A kill from Giubilato ended the match and gave the Mustangs its seventh victory in the season.
On Saturday SMU faced a tough lineup of LMU and UC-Irvine.
The Lions of Loyola Marymount handed the Mustangs their second loss of the season in three straight games (30-18, 30-20, 30-26). SMU’s early drive in game one fizzled quickly with only seven points on 38 attack attempts. Jenny Reyes had five of SMU’s 19 digs and Peters had the Mustangs only service ace. LMU’s .533-attack percentage and five services aces were too much for SMU in game two.
Game three showed better play from the Mustangs, but their efforts were still not enough for a win. The Lions ended the match with a 30-26 victory.
UC-Irvine was a more equal match-up for SMU; the teams battled for five games before the Anteaters ended the match with a 3-2 victory (28-30, 20-30, 30-20, 30-24, 15-6).
Rainbird posted a career high double-double with 25 kills and 22 digs. Her teammate, fellow outside hitter Rachel Giubilato, nailed 18 kills and 19 digs in addition to her two services aces against UCI.
Game one had SMU fired up. The Mustangs never gave the Anteaters the lead; there were numerous ties between the teams, but SMU came out on top with a kill by freshman Adrienne Zielasko that ended the game at 30-28. SMU’s intensity continued in game two with Jenny Reyes scoring two consecutive service aces to bring the score to 25-18.
Giubilato followed Reyes’ lead, laying down two of her own service aces later in the game. Peters sealed the win with another service ace.
Their success in the first two games proved to be an inadequate motivator for the Mustangs as the fell to the Anteaters from Irvine in the last three games. The SMU volleyball team left California 7-3 for the season.
The Mustangs open up conference play against Tulsa tonight at 7 p.m. in Moody Coliseum.