SMU VB: Oliver’s 20 Kills Not Enough Against Rice

DALLAS (SMU) – Dana Powell recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 18 kills and 20 digs, and Jessica Oliver added 20 kills with a team-high .362 attack-percentage, but it wasn’t enough Friday night as Rice won 3-1 in Moody Coliseum.

After Rice took the first set, the Mustangs nearly tied the match after erasing five-straight set points for Rice, tying the second set 24-24. In all, SMU (4-11, 0-3 Conference USA) fought off six set points before the Owls (8-7, 3-1 C-USA) won 27-25 to take a 2-0 lead.

The Mustangs out-lasted the Owls in the third set to cut the lead to 2-1. The Owls took a five-point lead midway through the set, but SMU evened the score 19-19. With the set still tied at 23-23, Oliver blasted two-straight kills to give SMU a 25-23 win.

Kelli Becerra finished with her 10th double-double with 46 assists and 13 digs, and Sidney Stewart led SMU with 23 digs. The Mustangs wrap up the weekend against Houston in Moody Coliseum on Sunday at 1 p.m.

 

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