Volleyball gets swept at No. 5 Nebraska

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

SMU Falls To No. 5 Nebraska

LINCOLN, NEB. (SMU)- Continuing its tough non-conference schedule, SMU Volleyball battled with the nation's No. 5 team in Nebraska, falling 3-0 (16-25, 23-25, 16-25) Sunday afternoon at the Bob Devaney Center.

Natalie Perdue was named to the Ameritas Players Challenge All-Tournament Team for her performance this weekend. Perdue led the Mustangs' attack, posting eight kills. The junior outside hitter recorded four digs and passed out two assists.

Celia Cullen dished out 15 assists and tied her career-high in kills with four. Naya Shime tallied six kills and four digs. Alex Glover posted three kills and collected four blocks, while Emma Clothier chipped in a pair of kills along with three blocks. Brooke Frazier led the Mustangs with 14 digs, while Jamison Wheeler tallied nine digs and notched a kill. Sina Uluave paired a kill with six digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Set One:
Starting the match for SMU were Celia Cullen, Alex Glover, Sina Uluave, Natalie Perdue, Naya Shime and Brooke Frazier. Perdue struck first for the Mustangs with an early kill. The set went back and forth early. Three unanswered from the Mustangs brought it within one. Nebraska went on a run of its own through two SMU timeouts to take control of the set. SMU scored six out of the last seven points in the first frame but dropped the set 25-16.

Set Two:
The Mustangs found their footing early in the second set. SMU posted four unanswered to counter an early Nebraska run and give the Mustangs a 4-3 advantage. Shime's second kill of the day put SMU up 11-9 midway through the frame. Both teams battled back and forth until the media timeout, where the Cornhuskers led by two. Nebraska took control of the set following the pause, but the Mustangs stayed within striking distance. A Clothier block plus Perdue's seventh kill of the contest forced a Nebraska timeout up two. The Mustang run extended through the timeout, bringing the set within one on two separate occasions, forcing Nebraska to burn its final timeout. A block sealed the set 25-23 for the Cornhuskers.

Set Three:
SMU burned a timeout after Nebraska jumped out to a 7-2 lead. Back-to-back Cullen kills narrowed the gap. The Mustangs trailed 15-7 at the third set media timeout. SMU fought back after the pause in action, but Nebraska pushed ahead and won the final set 25-16.

FROM THE COACHES:
"It was awesome to play in the environment that Nebraska provides against tough competition in all three matches," Head Coach Sam Erger said. "We learned a lot about our team this weekend that will only make us better. I think we're all excited to build off some of the things we did really well this weekend and get in the gym and attack our work list. I was really proud of that second set against Nebraska. We held that team to a .14 hitting percentage and showed some real growth defensively after making some adjustments post Utah State. Natalie Perdue and Celia Cullen had excellent showings as well and Natalie was deserving of the all tournament award. We'll get back to work and keep competing and learning through this non-conference slate."

SMU NOTES:
SMU Kills Leader: Natalie Perdue (8)
SMU Assist Leader: Celia Cullen (15)
SMU Digs Leader: Brooke Frazier (13)
SMU Blocks Leader: Emma Clothier/Alex Glover (3)
SMU Ace Leader: Brooke Frazier (1)
INDIVIDUAL NOTES:

Celia Cullen's four kills tied her career-high. The senior setter recorded four kills for the seventh time in her career.

Brooke Frazier led the Mustang defense in digs (13) for the second time this season.

TEAM RECORDS SERIES NOTES:
Sunday was the first ever matchup between SMU and Nebraska. SMU is 0-1 all-time against Nebraska.

UP NEXT:
SMU is back in action Friday against Florida State at the Seminole Invitational in Tallahassee, Florida.