Natalie Perdue recorded 16 kills with teammate Emma Clothier adding 13 to lead the SMU volleyball team to a five set (21-25, 25-23, 25-21, 23-25, 15-10) win over No. 14 Baylor in the 2023 home opener Wednesday night in Moody Coliseum.
The victory marked SMU's highest ranked win in program history. SMU's last win over a ranked opponent came on Sept. 12, 2015 against No. 18 San Diego. SMU won its first match versus a ranked opponent in Moody Coliseum since Sept. 6, 2014, when the Mustangs took down No. 24 Oklahoma.
SMU's high-powered offensive attack saw three different Mustangs record double-digit kills for the third time this season. Perdue earned her second consecutive double-double after paring 13 digs with 16 kills. Clothier tied her season-high in blocks with seven while recording 13 kills on .550 hitting. Jamison Wheeler added 10 kills.
Freshman Hannah Whittingstall shined in her starting debut, tallying eight kills on .583 hitting, and five blocks. Lauren Ohlinger added seven kills, and Naya Shime tallied five kills and six digs.
Celia Cullen turned in her second straight double-double of the season after recording season-highs in assists (54) and digs (19), along with four total blocks. The senior setter eclipsed 2500 career assists. Cullen entered the night with 2497, and passed out 54 in the match taking her career total to 2551.
Defensively, Sina Uluave notched 18 digs, while Brooke Frazier recorded eight.
Monday, September 4, 2023 Women's Volleyball
Tuesday, September 5, 2023 Women's Volleyball
| Away |
Home |
Location |
Links |
| Stanford 3 |
Rice 0 |
Houston, Texas |
Box Score |
Five American teams will be back in action on Thursday as Tournament action ramps back up. Wichita State will host No. 22 Kansas in Wichita at 8 p.m. on ESPN+.