BY BRIAN GOSSET
SMU made history on Saturday – sweeping Florida to clinch the program’s first trip to the Sweet 16. The Mustangs are 27-5 and have won 11 in a row.
Next up is a date with #3 Purdue on Thursday at Pitt.
Tip off is set for 8:30 pm CT.
SMU dominated the first set – allowing just 11 points from the Gators. The second and third sets were closer as the Mustangs completed the sweep 25-11, 25-21, 26-24.
Kennedi Rogers and Malaya Jones led SMU’s offense with 14 and 13 kills, respectively. The team hit 0.370. SMU set an NCAA record in the first round against Central Arkansas with a 0.618 hitting percentage, the highest for a three-set match in NCAA tournament history.
Rogers hit 0.440 while Jones hit 0.357.
Lovejoy grad Averi Carlson continued her amazing season with 38 assists, five digs and two block assists. Jordyn Schilling was the team leader with 11 digs. 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).
