SMU Volleyball Mustangs Take Five Set Match At Southern Miss In Record-Setting Fashion

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HATTIESBURG, Miss. (SMU) – Jessica Oliver recorded 16 kills and Caroline Young finished with 15 to lead SMU to a 3-2 comeback win at Southern Miss Saturday night. Sidney Stewart had 31 digs to lead SMU to a school-record 132 digs as the Mustangs improved to 12-15, 8-7 in Conference USA, while the Golden Eagles fell to 13-14, 7-8 in C-USA.

Dana Powell added a double-double with 11 kills and 26 digs, while Kelli Becerra and Kendrick Koch also notched double-doubles. Becerra had 33 assists and 27 digs, while Koch scored 25 assists and 13 digs. Courtney Manning nearly accomplished a triple-double with 14 kills, nine digs and nine blocks.

The Mustangs bounced back from a 2-1 deficit to take the fourth and fifth sets, 25-20 and 15-12, to steal the win on the road one night after USM edged SMU in five sets. SMU scored four of the first five points in the fifth set, and never trailed in the decisive set to take the win.

{scrollbox}dir=2011/smu volleyball{/scrollbox}After Southern Miss took a 2-1 advantage by edging out SMU 25-23 in the third set, the Mustangs rallied to extend the match in the fourth. SMU broke an 8-8 tie with a 7-3 run for a 15-11 lead and never look back, taking the fourth 25-20.

The two teams split the first two sets in nearly identical fashion, with Southern Miss holding off the Mustangs for a 25-20 win in the first. SMU answered by slipping past the Golden Eagles for a 25-23 win to even the match in the second.

The Mustangs travel to Houston Friday to take on the Cougars at 7 p.m. SMU will face Rice Sunday at 1 p.m. before returning home for a three-match stand to close out the regular season.