Monday, November 5, 2007
SMU volleyball drops two to end regular season home schedule
Mustangs lose 3-1 to Memphis on Friday, then get swept by UAB on Sunday.
Memphis 3, SMU 1
The SMU volleyball team took a game from Memphis before falling, 3-1 (30-23, 25-30, 30-22, 30-27). Three Mustangs tallied double-digit kills and four racked up double-digit digs.
Caitlin Rainbird and Madison Hill each recorded double-doubles in the match. Rainbird had a team-leading 13 kills to go with 14 digs, while Hill managed 39 assists and 10 digs. Kendra Kahanek, who led the team in hitting (.500) pounded out 12 kills and Natalie Peters had 10. Libero Candice Davis led the Mustangs in digs with 19, followed closely by freshman Kathryn Wilkerson with 17. The Ponies led the Tigers in blocks, 13.0-11.5, with Peters leading the defense with eight block assists.
Memphis jumped out to a quick lead in game four, taking the first four points, before SMU answered with one of their own. The Tigers widened their lead to seven, leading the Mustangs 8-1, but SMU refused to back down, chipping away at Memphis' advantage, driving the score to 11-7. SMU then rallied, taking the next six points and the lead, 12-11. The teams then battled through eight ties, with the Tigers unable to gain the edge. The Mustangs held the lead 23-20, until Memphis went on a run, taking five straight points. SMU was never able to regain the lead.
Memphis led the third game, 9-3, when the Mustangs went on a tear, scoring six straight points and tying the score, 9-9. The Tigers began to build their lead again, but SMU kept within two until Memphis went on another run. Memphis won four straight points, taking the lead 15-10. SMU was never able to get closer than four points again and Memphis won game three.
Game two was a battle the Mustangs ultimately won. Memphis struck first, but SMU struck back, tying the score 3-3. The teams battled through four more ties, with the Mustangs prevailing, 9-8. SMU never gave up the lead. The Tigers twice cut the Mustangs' lead to one, but managed to put the game away.
The first game was led by the Tigers throughout. Memphis took the first three points and although the Mustangs cut their lead to one point, the Tigers strung five points together, driving the score to 8-2. SMU got to within four points three times, but were unable to get any closer.
UAB 3, SMU 0
The SMU volleyball team dropped its final home game of the season, losing to UAB, 3-0 (30-21, 31-29, 30-19). Two Mustangs notched double-doubles in the match, two had double-digit kills and four recorded double-digit digs.
With the loss, the Mustangs fall to 15-13 on the season, 5-9 in Conference USA, while UAB improves to 21-7, 11-3 in C-USA.
Senior co-captain Caitlin Rainbird and senior setter Madison Hill each recorded double-doubles in the match. Rainbird tallied 10 kills and 12 digs against the Blazers and Hill had 28 assists and 14 digs. Natalie Peters also recorded 10 kills and led the Mustangs in hitting, with a percentage of .304. Freshman Kathryn Wilkerson added 10 digs (missing a double-double by one kill) and sophomore libero Candice Davis racked up 12 digs on the afternoon.
Game three was close through the first four points, but the Blazers went on a tear, scoring 10 consecutive points. SMU chipped away, but was unable to overcome the deficit. The Mustangs got to within nine points three times, but could not catch up as UAB put the game out of reach.
The second game came down to the wire. The Blazers got on the board first, but SMU immediately responded. The two teams traded points until the Blazers strung together six straight points, opening up a 10-4 lead. SMU continued to fight, grabbing points and eventually getting to within four, driving the score up to 13-17. The Mustangs then went on their longest scoring streak of the afternoon, taking 11 straight points and the lead, 24-17. SMU held on through the game's next 13 points, until the Blazers came back to tie the game, 28-28. A block by Kendra Kahanek and Hill put the Mustangs up, 29-28. But a UAB kill again tied the game, 29-29, forcing the game into extra points. The Blazers took the final two points of the game, shutting down the Mustangs' rally.
In game one, the teams battled through seven ties and six lead changes before the Blazers finally managed to take control of the game. The Mustangs stayed within two points through the game's 28th point, when UAB started to break away. SMU tried to keep up with the Blazers, but were never again able to get closer than four points.
The Mustangs are on the road next weekend for the final week of regular season play. Next Friday, Nov. 9, the Mustangs will take on Houston, followed by a match at Rice Saturday, Nov. 10.
Source: SMU
