BY BRIAN GOSSET
Lovejoy’s Averi Carlson highlighted SMU with 35 assists as the Mustangs opened the 2025 NCAA tournament with a home win over Central Arkansas on Friday 25-13, 25-13, 25-13.
SMU improves to 26-5 and will host Florida in the second round Saturday.
It was their 10th straight win and 14th home win out of 15 matches this season.
Others from DFW on SMU’s roster: Favor Anyanwu (Sachse), Jadyn Livings (Plano Prestonwood), Hannah Beauford (Prosper), Jentry Lamirand (Decatur) and Natalia Newsome (Arlington Martin).
Livings had a team-high 15 kills and hit 0.609 for the Mustangs. Malaya Jones added 11 kills on a 0.556 clip. Anyanwu finished with five kills and seven block assists. SMU set an NCAA tournament record with a team hitting percentage of 0.618 – the highest team efficiency in a three set match.
Prosper’s Ella Chaney and Grapevine’s Greyson Button play for Central Arkansas. Chaney had one kill and Button added three with two block assists.
