SMU Volleyball Sweeps East Carolina
DALLAS (SMU) – Jessica Oliver and Caroline Young each had 12 kills to lead the SMU volleyball team to a straight sets victory (25-23, 25-12, 25-20) over East Carolina Friday night in Moody Coliseum. Oliver hit .346 in the match, while Young hit .321.
The Mustangs closed out the match in the third set, despite every effort by ECU to extend the match. SMU opened the set on a 5-1 run, but the Pirates closed the gap, tying the score 11-11. ECU eventually took an 18-16 lead, but SMU out-scored the Pirates 9-2 to seal the victory.
SMU (9-13, 5-5 Conference USA) took control of the match in the second set, breaking a 9-9 tie with a 9-0 run. Kelli Becerra served nine straight times during the stretch, which included four blocks by the Mustangs. The Pirates (2-17, 0-10 C-USA) never recovered, and SMU went on to take the set 25-12 for a 2-0 lead in the match.
In the first set, the Mustangs spotted ECU a three-point lead to start the match, but were able to overcome early errors. SMU came back to take a five-point lead, 17-12, but the Pirates cut the lead to one, 18-17. SMU never let ECU tie the score again, holding on for the 25-23 win.
Kendrick Koch had her first career double-double in the match, scoring 11 assists with 15 digs, and Sidney Stewart had a match-high 18 digs. Becerra had 20 assists and seven digs in the match. Courtney Manning had eight kills and seven blocks. Oliver also added four blocks.
The Mustangs return to the road for a match against Marshall in Huntington, W.Va., on Sunday at 11 a.m. CT. SMU will then return home next weekend, hosting UAB on Friday and Memphis on Sunday. SMU will sponsor a tailgate at 12:30 p.m. before the Memphis match as part of the Pack the House campaign.
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