Volleyball sweeps Syracuse, Texas State

[PonyPride]

Volleyball Takes Doubleheader, Downing Syracuse 3-1 and Texas State 3-1
Dana Powell Scores Pair Of Double-Doubles

Sept. 18, 2009

DALLAS (SMU) - The engine sputtered early in the day for the Mustangs, but roared all day long as SMU took both end of the day-night doubleheader with 3-1 victories over Texas State and Syracuse in the Doubletree Classic at Moody Coliseum.

After Syracuse (9-3) took the third set 25-19 to stay alive in the match, the Mustangs (9-4) held off a late charge by the Orange to take a 25-21 set victory for the match. SMU took a 12-7 lead to start the set before Syracuse cut the lead to one, 14-13. The Mustangs opened the gap to three, 22-19, before closing the door on the Orange.

SMU took the first two sets without much of a fight from Syracuse, out-scoring their opponent 50-34 before the break. It was Syracuse that blazed after the break, taking the third set 25-19 to extend the match before falling 3-1.

The Mustangs took three sets in a row from Texas State (4-9) after dropping the first set 25-20. SMU was in the first set until the end, trailing by just two 19-17, but the Bobcats never let the Mustangs any closer.

After hitting .172 in the first set, SMU blasted a .348 hitting percentage on its way to a 25-13 win to even the match. The third set was an all-out slugfest, with both teams trading blows and neither backing down. Trailing 24-19, SMU fought off five-straight set points to tie the match 24-24. The two teams then went point for point, all the way to 30-30, before a block by Kendra Kahanek and Jessica Oliver set up yet another set point for the Mustangs. This time, Carly Bergquist found the hole for an ace to give the Mustangs the crucial third set, 32-30.

Texas State opened the fourth set on a 6-1 run, and extended their lead to 12-5 before the Mustangs rallied. SMU scored 10 of the next 13 points to tie the match 15-15. The Bobcats stretched open the lead again, taking a 22-18 advantage. SMU slammed the door, however, scoring seven points in a row to end the match with a 25-22 set win.

Dana Powell finished the day with a pair of double-doubles, improving to nine on the season, with 16 kills and 14 digs against Syracuse and 17 kills and 11 digs against Texas State. Kelli Becerra finished with 85 assists in the two matches, and Sidney Stewart finished with 38 digs.
The Mustangs will close out the Doubletree Classic Saturday against William and Mary at 3:30 p.m.