Monday, November 12, 2007
SMU volleyball splits matches to end regular season
SMU 3, Houston 2
The SMU volleyball team beat Houston Friday night in a five-game thriller, 3-2 (23-30, 30-24, 30-27, 28-30, 17-15). The win boosts the Mustangs to 16-13, 6-9 in Conference USA.
Three Mustangs recorded double-doubles in a match that featured a balanced attack. Senior Caitlin Rainbird hit 23 kills and 21 digs, freshman Kathryn Wilkerson had 18 kills and 17 digs and senior setter Madison Hill racked up 22 assists and 15 digs.
Four Mustangs tallied double-digit kills and five Mustangs recorded double-digit digs. In addition to Rainbird and Wilkerson, freshman Caitlin Adair managed 11 kills and junior Kendra Kahanek added 10. On the defensive side, sophomore libero Candice Davis racked up 27 digs and junior Carly Bergquist added 10.
Game one saw the Cougars score first, but the Mustangs kept it close, tying the game five times and taking the lead twice. At the game's 13th point, with the Mustangs ahead 7-5, the Cougars went on a run, reeling off eight straight points and taking the lead, 13-7. SMU got to within three points seven times and within two points twice, but were unable to catch up.
The second game had a different script. This time SMU scored first and the teams tied twice before Houston built a two-point lead. The Mustangs came back and tied the score, 5-5, before building a four-point lead of their own. Houston cut the Ponies' lead to two, but SMU was able to build and retain a sizeable lead, putting game two out of reach for the Cougars.
Game three started with the Mustangs taking the first three points of the game and building an edge. Houston tied the game at 5-5, touching off a pattern that would continue through the next several points. The teams tied nine more times and Houston took a brief lead, but the Mustangs were able to hang on for the win.
In the fourth game, Houston won five of the game's first six points, building a 5-1 advantage. The Mustangs chipped away, getting within one point twice and within two points six times. SMU was never able to overcome the deficit though, and the Cougars held on for the win, forcing a fifth game.
Game five saw the Cougars jump out to a quick lead, winning the game's first four points. Houston built a commanding 8-3 lead, but the Mustangs took five of the next six points to get within a point, 9-8. The Cougars won the next four points, building their lead again, 13-8. But again SMU struck back, winning three points of their own and cutting the Cougars' lead to two. Houston took the next point, but the Mustangs won six of the final seven points to beat Houston in extra points.
Rice 3, SMU 0
The SMU volleyball team closed out its regular season Saturday, falling to Rice, 3-0 (30-23, 30-22, 30-28).
Caitlin Rainbird led the Mustangs in kills, notching 12 on the evening, with Kathryn Wilkerson and Natalie Peters right behind with nine each. On defense, Candice Davis recorded 21 digs, while Kendra Kahanek registered one block solo and four block assists and freshman Caitlin Adair recorded one block solo and two block assists.
Game three was the closest, as the teams tied three times before the Mustangs took the lead, 8-5. SMU held the lead through the next nine points, but the Owls went on a run, scoring four points, taking the advantage, 13-11. The Mustangs tied the game at 15-15 and again at 19-19, 21-21, 22-22, 23-23, 24-24 and 26-26. SMU staged a run at the end, taking three straight points, but the Owls cut the Mustangs' rally short, winning the game's final two points.
The Mustangs took the first two points of game two and held on to the lead through the game's next nine points. Rice went on an eight-point run, tying the game 6-6, then taking the lead, 11-6. SMU got three points back, but couldn't quite catch up to the Owls. The Mustangs got within two twice, but Rice was able to keep the Mustangs at bay, winning the game by eight points.
In game one, the Mustangs controlled the lead through the game's first 20 points, fighting off five ties by Rice. The Owls stole the lead off an ace by Karyn Morgan. SMU tied the game 12-12, but the Owls again pulled away. The Mustangs again tied the game at 17-17, but Rice took the next two points. A third time, SMU tied the game at 19-19, but the Owls took four points in a row, shutting the Mustangs down. SMU was able to score four more points, but the Owls pulled too far away and put the game out of reach.
The Mustangs finish the season 16-14, 6-9 in Conference USA. SMU heads to Huntington, W.V. Wednesday to compete in the Conference USA Championships, hosted by Marshall.
Source: SMU
