Mustang volleyball heads to Houston this weekend to face conference opponents Rice and the University of Houston.

SMU 13-12 for the season and 4-7 in conference play. The Mustangs are coming off a 1-1 weekend with a win over UTEP and a loss to Tulane. Juniors Caitlin Rainbird and Rachel Giubilato are both having record breaking seasons. In the win over UTEP, Giubilato notched five services aces and earned her 13th career double-double. She added her 14th double-double last Sunday when the Mustangs fell to Tulane. Rainbird also had double-double performances last weekend, with 14 kills and 12 digs against the Green Wave.

Some of the newest volleyball players have also made big contributions so far this season. Freshman Candice Davis was named Co-Defensive and Defensive Player of the Week by C-USA on two separate occasions this season. Davis set a career-high record of 32 digs against Stephen F. Austin earlier this season.

Also making a name for herself is Davis’ teammate freshman Kendra Kahanek. The 6’2″ middle blocker posted her first double-double in SMU’s first win over UTEP. Kahanek put up 20 kills and 11 blocks to help the Mustangs to a victory.

The Mustangs are beginning to wind down their season, with only five matches left before the C-USA tournament gets underway.

On Friday night SMU will take on Rice. The Owls are currently ranked No. 10 in C-USA standings, right behind SMU who is ranked No. 9. Rice, a long time SMU rival, is 12-13 for the season and 5-6 in C-USA play.

SMU will stay in Houston until Sunday when the Mustangs face the University of Houston at the Athletics/Alumni Center. The Houston Cougars are 15-11 overall and 6-5 in C-USA, with recent losses to East Carolina and Marshall. Houston is 4-2 in C-USA matches played at home this season. Sophomore outside hitter Justine Farmer had 30 kills in the Cougars’ loss to East Carolina last week while Krystal Schulle had a career-high 66 assists.

The Mustangs continue on the road next weekend as they face No. 1 ranked Tulsa in Oklahoma.