Volleyball team hosts scrimmage, preps for season opener in Indiana (Photo by John Schreiber, The Daily Campus )

The SMU volleyball team held a red and blue scrimmage in Moody Coliseum Tuesday night in preparation for the start of the 2005-2006 season this coming weekend.

The blue team dominated the first two games 30-27 and 30-21, but fell short the third game, losing 12-15 to the red team.

The blue team, which consisted mainly of veteran players, included first-years Stefanie Kons, sophomores Kara Cornelius, Rachel Guibilato and Caitlin Rainbird, junior Jennette Evanco, and seniors Kelly Larkan and Ashley Zener.

First-years Lauren Dove and Jenny Reyes, sophomore Madison Hill, junior Whitney Salcer, senior Stephanie Bennett and assistant coach Sean Kiracofe made up the red team.

Captain Evanco thought the scrimmage went well, but said there is definitely room for improvement. She said the team needs to keep working hard during practice and they’ll succeed.

According to captain Larkan, “It was good to play a competitive game before our first tournament this weekend. It will help us stay positive and focused throughout the weekend.”

The team will travel to Muncie, Indiana, on Thursday for the Ball State Invitational.

The team will take on the Ball State Cardinals Friday and the Wright State Raiders from Dayton, Ohio, Saturday.

“If we get our heads in the right place we will do well at the tournament,” Evanco said. “We can’t expect to win though, we have to earn it.”

Larken said the team is going to play well because it’s the first time players will see another team. She thinks they have a good chance of winning.

The Mustangs then return to Moody Coliseum for the first home game of the 2005-2006 season on Aug. 31 when they face traditional rival North Texas.