SMU Volleyball Wins At Houston

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HOUSTON, Texas (SMU) – Four attackers had at least 10 kills in SMU’s 3-0 win (26-24, 25-18, 25-23) at Houston Sunday afternoon. Avery Acker finished with 48 assists, the most by an SMU setter in a three-set match since Jessica Mihm had 50 in a 3-0 win against Cal Poly on Sept. 4, 2004. The Mustangs improved to 19-5, 8-4 in the American Athletic Conference, while Houston fell to 11-13, 3-9 in The American.

SMU held off the Cougars in the third set, winning 25-23 to complete the sweep. SMU had a 21-17 lead, but Houston rallied to even the score, 22-22. Caroline Young blasted a kill, her 13th and final kill of the match, and two Houston errors after an SMU service error gave SMU the victory. Young had six kills in the set, hitting .323 for the match.

Kristen Stehling had 11 kills without an error, hitting .786 in the win. Abbey Bybel, 12 kills, and Cailin Bula, 10, also finished in double figures. Morgan Heise finished with 19 digs to lead the defense, which finished with 58 as a team. Acker posted her 19th double-double of the season with 12 digs, and Julianne Scheidler added 11 digs.

The Mustangs scored four of the last five points for a 26-24 win in the first set. Trailing 23-21, Bybel picked up her fifth kill of the set, and Giordano and Young combined for a block to tie the score. The next Houston

attack landed just past the end line, giving SMU a 24-23 lead. The Cougars scored to tie the score again before the Mustangs ended the set with the next two points. SMU had 22 digs in the set, holding Houston to a .170 attack percentage. The Mustangs hit .261 with 19 kills.

SMU took a 9-4 lead to start the second set, continuing with the momentum they built at the end of the first, and cruised to a 25-18 victory for a 2-0 lead in the match. The Mustangs never trailed in the set, scoring three of the first four points, and Houston never got within three after SMU took the first five-point lead at 9-4. The Mustangs hit .395, scoring 18 kills with just three errors, and held Houston to 10 kills, even though Houston committed just two errors in the set. Stehling was a perfect five kills in five attacks to lead the offense.

The Mustangs return to Moody Coliseum Friday to host Memphis at 7 p.m. SMU will also face Cincinnati at home Sunday at 1 p.m.

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