The SMU volleyball team dropped all three games this weekend in Durham, N.C. to Cornell, Duke and Charlotte during the Duke Invitational held at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
The Mustangs posted their first lost 3-0 (30-23, 30-22, 32-30) to Cornell Friday afternoon. Sophomore outside hitter Rachel Giubilato led the team with a double-double, which included 12 kills and 29 digs, the most digs recorded in SMU history during a three-game match.
Senior middle blocker Kelly Larkan also contributed a double-double to the team with 10 blocks and 10 kills. Sophomore setter Madison Hill had 19 assists in the match, while junior libero Jennette Evanco made 16 digs. Freshman middle blocker Natalie Peters added five kills, three digs, and three blocks.
The Mustangs fell 3-2 (25-30, 24-30, 30-23, 30-27, 8-15) after a very contested game against the Duke Blue Devils Friday evening.
Giubilato recorded her second double-double of the day, tallying 16 kills and 18 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Caitlin Rainbird also had a double-double with 12 kills and 22 digs. Peters had four blocks, 14 kills and hit .333, while senior middle blocker Ashley Zener contributed 12 kills to the Mustang’s stats.
Evanco led the team in digs, recording 23, while Hill added 57 assists to the hard-fought battle.
SMU played their last match of the Duke Invitational Saturday afternoon against the Charlotte 49ers. The Mustangs had high expectations of leaving the invitational with a victory, but fell 3-1 (30-27, 24-30, 30-27, 30-24) to the 49ers.
Giubilato earned her third double-double of the tournament and set an SMU record for the most attack attempts in a four game match with 71. She also had 20 kills and 14 digs. Rainbird had 23 kills and 21 digs and recorded the first 20-20 of the team’s 2005-06 season.
Zener recorded seven kills, 10 blocks and hit .500 for the match. Peters, with 12 kills and five blocks, also contributed a high hitting percentage of .360, while Larkan added 14 digs, four blocks, and seven kills to the team.
Hill contributed another double-double to the Mustangs, tallying 50 assists and 14 digs, while Evanco had yet another game with double-digit digs, recording 15.The SMU volleyball team will host Conference USA opponent Tulsa, on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. in Moody Coliseum.
