Manning Sets Career Blocks Mark In 3-0 Win At Southern Miss

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Manning Sets Career Blocks Record In 3-0 Win At Southern Miss
Senior has 535 career blocks, tied for third in C-USA history

Oct. 7, 2012

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (SMU) - Courtney Manning set the SMU career record for block with five at Southern Miss to lead SMU to a 3-0 sweep of the Golden Eagles Sunday. The senior has 535 blocks, tying UAB's Hailey Isham for third in Conference USA history, and finished with 10 kills in the win.

Caroline Young had a match-high 12 kills, and was one of four Mustangs with at least three blocks. The sophomore also had three aces. Maddie Lozano finished with seven kills, four blocks and three aces. SMU held every Southern Miss player to less than 10 kills in the match.

The Golden Eagles tried to prevent the sweep in the third set, coming out of the lockerroom to take an 8-5 lead. Still trailing by three, 12-9, the Mustangs rallied to take a 14-12 lead. Southern Miss (6-12, 2-4 Conference USA) never led again. SMU (6-13, 3-4 C-USA) closed out the set and the match with the 25-16 win.

The Mustangs came back to take the first set 25-23 from the Golden Eagles, capping off the victory with an ace from Young. SMU was trailing 20-14 before going on an 8-2 run to tie the set 22-22. Manning highlighted the run with her record-setting block and a pair of kills. Young had five kills and two blocks to lead the Mustangs, and Lozano finished with four kills in the set.

SMU went on another run early in the second set, breaking a 4-4 tie with a 6-0 run. The Golden Eagles never got close again, as SMU continued to stretch the lead throughout the set. SMU got the advantage to 12, leading 19-7, going on to win 25-13 to take a 2-0 lead in the match. Manning led the Mustangs with four kills and a block in the set.

The Mustangs return home to Moody Coliseum to host Tulane Friday at 7 p.m. SMU will face UTEP on Oct. 14, and the annual "Dig Pink" match is scheduled for Oct. 19 against Tulsa.