SMU Volleyball Sweeps Blazers For Second Time This Season
DALLAS (SMU) – The SMU volleyball team extinguished the Blazers in three sets (25-18, 25-13, 25-22), sweeping the season series with UAB in straight sets. Dana Powell and Kelli Becerra each recorded their 14th double-double of the season to lead the Mustangs victory. With the win, SMU extended its winning streak over UAB to five matches, all 3-0 victories.
Powell was one of three Mustangs with a match-high 10 kills and had 10 digs, while Becerra finished with 23 assists and 12 digs. Jessica Oliver and Caroline Young joined Powell with 10 kills, and Young hit .818, committing just one attack error in 11 attempts.
The Mustangs (10-14, 6-6 Conference USA) took control of the match with a dominating 25-13 win in the second set to go up 2-0 on the Blazers (18-6, 8-4 C-USA). SMU scored the first six points of the set, and kept the Blazers from cutting into the margin. With the lead still six, 14-8, the Mustangs extended it to 10 with the next four points before taking the 12-point victory.
SMU finished off the Blazers in the third set, holding off a late charge down the stretch to finish the match in three sets. UAB took an 8-5 lead to start the set, but SMU called timeout and scored the next five points to take a 9-8 lead. The Mustangs never trailed again.
The Mustangs held a two-point lead midway through the first set before stretching it to five, 14-9. The Blazers cut the lead to three down the stretch, but SMU scored five of the last six to take the first set 25-18.
Courtney Manning had seven of SMU’s nine blocks and added nine kills. Sidney Stewart had 23 digs, and Savannah Myklebust had seven kills and four digs. SMU had 44 kills, while holding UAB to 33.
SMU will close out the homestand Sunday against Memphis at 1 p.m. The SMU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will host a tailgate at 12:30 for SMU students.
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