SMU Volleyball edged by No. 31 NMSU

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

SMU Volleyball Pushes No. 31 Aggies To Limit, Falls 3-2 In Five Sets

Aug. 28, 2009

DENTON, Texas (SMU) - The Mustangs took No. 31 New Mexico State to the limit at the North Texas Mean Green Invitational, but a 16-14 fifth set victory gave the Aggies the 3-2 (25-15, 22-25, 25-22, 17-25, 16-14) victory over SMU on Friday. It was the second straight five-set match of the day for the Mustangs (0-2),. Dana Powell finished with her second double-double of the day, recording 18 kills and 17 digs with a .300 hitting percentage.

Kendra Kahanek finished with eight digs and six blocks, while Kathryn Wilkerson recorded eight kills and 15 digs. The Mustangs recorded 12.0 team blocks, and Kelli Becerra was credited with 46 assists.

With their backs against the wall down two sets to one, the Mustangs went on an 11-3 run to break a 14-14 tie and close out the fourth set 25-17, forcing a fifth set. Kathryn Wilkerson recorded seven digs and six kills in the set. Becerra scored 15 assists, while Powell got five kills and five digs.

Trailing 19-14 when she got the serve in the third set, Wilkerson was able to hold serve for five-straight points, brings the Mustangs all the way back to 19-19. Despite the momentum shift, New Mexico State was able to hold on for a 25-22 set victory. The Aggies hit .289 in the set, after going .114 and .140 in the previous two.

After jumping out to an 11-6 lead in the second set, the Mustangs held of the Aggie charge to take a 25-23 win and tie the match at one set to one. After just four kills in the first set, SMU blasted down 16 kills. Kahanek got above the net for three crucial blocks, and Sidney Stewart notched six digs. As a team, SMU hit .306 in the second set, after a -.097 first set hitting percentage. Freshman Courtney Manning scored three kills and a block in her first collegiate set.

The Aggies (1-0) scored the first three points of the first set on their way to a 25-15 win. The Mustangs scored the next four points to take a 4-3 lead, their last of the match. The Aggies opened the lead to 9-5, and didn't let the Mustangs within five points the rest of the way. Wilkerson had three digs and a block, while Caitlin Adair recorded two blocks in the opening stanza.

SMU will close out the Mean Green Invitational Saturday against UT-San Antonio at 4:30 p.m.