The SMU volleyball team opened the 2005 season Friday night in Muncie, Indiana with a 3-0 (30-28, 30-21, 30-13) loss to Ball State at the Nike/Active Ankle Invitational.

First-year middle blocker Natalie Peters led the Mustangs in kills and hit .500. Peters finished with 12 kills and had one error in 22 attempts. She also recorded three blocks and one solo block in her first collegiate match.

The opening game was a back-and-forth battle for most of the match. The Mustangs tied the game at 19-19 before Ball State had an 8-1 run and ended the game at 30-22. Peters led with three kills. First-year setter Stefanie Kons had nine assists and a kill.

Both teams held tight through the fist half of the second stanza. The Cardinals scored 16 of the next 21 points and the Mustangs fell 30-18. Peters had five kills and no errors in ten attempts. Kons had nine assists and five digs. Junior libero Jennette Evanco had four digs.

SMU put up a fight in the third match and came within two points at 28-26 before falling 30-26. Sophomore setter Madison Hill entered in the middle of the match and recorded seven kills.

SMU recovered Saturday with a 3-0 (30-28, 30-21, 30-13) victory over Wright State.

Once again Peters led the team at .500 and recorded 10 kills with two errors on 16 swings. Sophomore outside hitter Caitlin Rainbird recorded her first career double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs. She also recorded four aces.

An improved SMU defense was noticeable against the Raiders. Evanco led the defense with 16 digs. Hill totaled 47 assists in her first match as a starter.

The Raiders had a 15-12 lead in game one until the Mustangs scored 12 of the next 17 points and posted a 30-28 win. Rainbird recorded five kills, five digs, and two aces. Hill recorded 19 assists.

The Mustangs dominated the final two games. SMU jumped to an 8-3 lead in game two and had a 12-0 run in game three to close out the match. Senior middle blocker Kelly Larkan scored three of five aces in game three.

The Mustangs’ home opener is versus North Texas at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Moody Coliseum.