SMU Volleyball Beats Bobcats In Doubletree Invitational, 3-1

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

SMU Volleyball Beats Bobcats In Doubletree Invitational, 3-1

Sept. 3, 2010

DALLAS (SMU) --- Behind 18 Dana Powell kills, the SMU Mustangs (5-0) defeated the Texas State Bobcats on Friday night, 3-1, to win their second match of the day in the Doubletree Invitational at Moody Coliseum.

Powell notched her third double-double of the season with 14 digs to match the 18 kills. Powell was joined by teammates Courtney Manning and Jessica Oliver who each tallied 10 kills in the win over Texas State (2-3). Sidney Stewart led the Mustangs in digs for the fourth straight match with 28 scoops.

"I'm very proud of the way our team performed today," SMU head coach Lisa Seifert said. "That's a very good team that we faced and it is credit to their coaching staff. They played us tough and tested us constantly. I'm proud of the way our team fought back tonight and I'm excited to get the win."

SMU fought off a late Texas State rally to win the first set, 25-23. The Mustangs mounted a 22-16 lead in the set before the Bobcats rattled off a 6-1 rally to bring Texas State to a one-point deficit. After an attack error gave the Mustangs a point, Manning hammered a kill to give the Mustangs the set.

The Mustangs won a close second set, 25-23. SMU received 11 assists and two blocks from Kelli Becerra during the set to give the Ponies a 2-0 lead over the Bobcats. The set remained close for its entirety with the biggest margin being a Mustang five-point lead.

The Bobcats prevailed, 25-18, in the third set and brought the match to 2-1. The dropped set broke the Mustangs' ten-game winning streak dating back to the fourth set against Baylor on Aug. 28.

The Mustangs' stormed back in the fourth set behind six Powell kills to win, 25-20, to clinch their second match of the day. The win gives the Mustangs their best start to a season since 2007's 6-0 initial streak.

SMU volleyball returns to Moody Coliseum tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. to face UC Davis (2-2). The Aggies are the only team other than the Mustangs to notch two wins during the Doubletree Invitational.

[redpony]

Way to go ladies! You will soon be Top 25.

GO PONIES!!!