Volleyball tops Tulane in five sets

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Volleyball Bests Tulane In Five Sets
Led by Kathryn Wilkerson, the Mustangs improve to 11-3
Oct. 1, 2010

NEW ORLEANS (SMU) --- The SMU volleyball team won in five-sets over the Tulane Green Wave in New Orleans on Friday night. SMU advances to 11-3 this season, which marks the best start in program history through 14 matches, and 3-0 in Conference USA play.

Kathryn Wilkerson, an outside hitter from Arlington, Texas, converted on 16-of-46 swings (.283) and 18 digs. The double-digit digs and kills marks the senior's ninth double-double this season.

In addition to Wilkerson, outside hitters Dana Powell, Jessica Oliver and middle blocker Courtney Manning turned in impressive offensive performances for SMU. Powell stuffed the stat sheet with 16 kills, nine digs and three blocks and Oliver added 14 kills and two blocks from the right side. In the middle, Courtney Manning registered 12 kills and three blocks for the Mustangs.

Setter Kelli Becerra finished with 49 assists and 12 digs. The junior now has six double-doubles on the season.

The Mustangs broke a nine consecutive set win streak by dropping the first game of today's match, 25-22. SMU had not lost a set since the opening game against TCU on Sept. 21.

After trading sets with the Green Wave and trailing the match, 2-1, the Mustangs hit .538 in the fourth game to win, 25-18.

In the fifth and deciding set, the Mustangs jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, winning the set, 15-8. The Red-and-Blue converted on 8-of-21 swings and on 6-of-8 side-outs to clinch the victory in the final game.

After tonight's match, the Mustangs return home to face Southern Miss on Sunday at 1 p.m. In next week's action, SMU hosts its "Pack the House" event on Wednesday against Tulane and then the annual "Dig Pink", an event to raise money and awareness for breast cancer, on Saturday, Oct. 9 at 12 p.m.