Volleyball Defeats Arizona State 3-2 In Montana Invitational

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Volleyball Defeats Arizona State 3-2 In Montana Invitational
Mustangs Win Third-Straight Five-Set Match

Sept. 11, 2009

MISSOULA, Mont. (SMU) - The Mustangs won their third-straight five-set match, defeating Arizona State 3-2 (25-21, 19-25, 26-24, 21-25, 15-11) Friday at the Montana Invitational. Dana Powell continued to light up the gym, recording her seventh double-double with 26 kills and 19 digs.

The Mustangs (6-4) scored six-consecutive points to take a commanding 10-4 lead in the final set. ASU (6-2) cut the lead to two, but the Mustangs held off the charge to take the match with a 15-13 win.

Kelli Becerra finished with her fourth double-double of the season, recording 56 assists and 10 digs, while Kathryn Wilkersonalso scored her fourth double-double with a season-high 20 digs and 13 kills. Kendra Kahanek knocked down six blocks and nine kills in the win.

The fourth set was a hard-fought, close battle until the Sun Devils took a five-point lead 17-12, trying to keep the Mustangs from claiming the match. ASU maintained the distance to 20-15 before the Mustangs began cutting into the gap. SMU cut the lead to one, 22-21, but the Sun Devils forced a fifth set with a 25-21 win.

The third set was a series of multiple-point runs, most of which were posted by the Sun Devils, including a 9-4 stretch the put ASU up 17-11. The Mustangs charged back, posting a 15-8 rally to take the set 26-24 and a 2-1 lead in the match. Powell posted nine kills in the set, leading SMU back.

The Mustangs never could find and keep their footing in the second set. Falling behind 6-1 to open the second stanza, SMU rallied and cut the lead to one, 8-7. The Sun Devils maintained the lead, however, stretching it to four, 17-13. The Mustangs again rallied, this time tying the set 18-18. That is the point when the Sun Devils turned up the heat and kept it up, going on a 7-1 run, recording four kills and two blocks down the stretch.

The Mustangs were in a dogfight in the first set; with neither team able to stretch the lead past two until Arizona State took a 15-12 lead. SMU stayed with the game plan, tying the match at 17 before going on an 8-4 run to take an early 1-0 advantage in the match. Powell and Wilkerson combined for 10 kills in the set, while Kahanek, Courtney Manning and Jessica Olivereach added two.

The Mustangs will close out action at the Montana Invitational Saturday against North Dakota at 6 p.m.