Mustangs Lose Hard-Fought Match To TCU 3-1

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Mustangs Lose Hard-Fought Match To TCU 3-1
Becerra and Powell finish with double-doubles

Sept. 2, 2011

DALLAS (SMU) - The SMU volleyball team took the first set, overcoming a five-point deficit, but TCU took the final three sets to knock off the Mustangs 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-21) on the first day of the Doubletree Classic in Moody Coliseum.

Dana Powell led the Mustangs with 17 kills and 18 digs for her first double-double of the season, and freshman Caroline Young added 13 kills in the loss. Kelli Becerra recorded her second-straight double-double with a season-high 44 assists and 13 digs.

In the fourth and final set, SMU (1-3) led 14-10, but TCU (4-0) rallied back to a 17-14 lead before the Mustangs managed to side-out. The Mustangs battled to tie the score 18-18, but the Horned Frogs again went on a run, taking a 24-18 lead. The Mustangs fought off three match points before falling 25-21 in the set.

The first set went back and forth early, but TCU seemed to take control with a 20-14 lead. Three Jessica Oliver kills with a blast by Young in between, followed by a block by Young and Caroline Daly pulled the Mustangs to within one point, 20-19. SMU won three of the next four to take its first lead in the set, 22-21. The Mustangs held on the take a 1-0 advantage with a 25-23 set win.

In the second set, TCU took another early lead, but the Horned Frogs were able to hold off the SMU rally the even the match 1-1. The Mustangs trailed by five, but were only to cut it to three, 19-16, before falling 25-18.

TCU took control of the match in the third set, but the Mustangs fought until the final ball dropped. Neither team led by more than three points until TCU took a 20-16 lead. SMU made TCU work for each of its final five points, but in the end the Horned Frogs earned a 25-20 set win for a 2-1 match lead.

The Mustangs trailed TCU in kills, 57-51, but the 12 SMU service errors made the biggest difference in the match. SMU had eight blocks, to TCU's four, with Young, Daly and Courtney Manning each blocking four attacks. Sidney Stewart led the Mustangs with 30 of the teams 96 digs.

SMU will face Lamar on Saturday as the Doubletree Classic continues. Match time is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. The Mustangs will wrap up the tournament against Alabama in the evening session at 7 p.m.