Next Match:
at Stanford
11/16/2025 | 4pm CT
ESPN2
Nov. 16 (Sun) / 4pm CT
Stanford
BERKELEY, Calif. (SMU) – No. 10 SMU Volleyball reached the 20-win mark on the season in its three-set victory over California (7-18, 4-11 ACC) Friday night in Berkeley. SMU improved to 20-5 this season, 12-3 in league play.
The Mustangs hit .474 in the match, led by Malaya Jones, who had 15 kills, hitting .488 in the return to her home state. Madison Scheer joined Jones in double-figures with 10, hitting .714 against the Golden Bears.
Averi Carlson dished out 31 assists with five digs and four kills. As a team, SMU limited its error count to four on the night and out-blocked the Bears 7-2 on Friday. The Mustangs finished with an 87.8 percent side-out percentage.
MATCH NOTES
- SMU hit over .400 for the second time this season and for the second consecutive match. The Mustangs have swung at a .300 or better clip in 14 matches this season, tenth in ACC action.
- The Mustangs swept their fourth straight opponent.
- Malaya Jones reached double-digit kills for the 20th time this season, 13th in conference matches.
- SMU has won 20 or more matches in all four seasons under Head Coach Sam Erger.
- SMU improved to 2-1 against California, winning the last two meetings.
- SMU has won 12 of its last 13 matches this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Malaya Jones led the Mustangs with six kills in the first set, hitting .500, but SMU saw multiple kills from six different players. SMU hit .424 in the first set to help claim a 25-19 set one victory. The Mustangs sided out at an 85 percent rate in the opening frame.
The Mustangs upped their hitting percentage in the second to .500 and paired that with a dominant defensive frame where they had four blocks. SMU used a 4-0 run at the 6-4 mark to create separation and ended the frame with another four-point spurt to close out the set 25-14. The Mustangs held the Golden Bears to a .071 hitting percentage in the second set.
SMU earned another 25-14 set win to close the match, hitting its highest percentage of the match at .520 in the third set. With Malaya Jones behind the service line, SMU went a length 8-0 run. Later the Mustangs added a second run of seven straight, to help the Mustangs cruise to the sweep. Scheer led SMU with five kills in the final frame.
SMU LEADERS:
SMU Kills Leader: Malaya Jones (15)
SMU Assist Leader: Averi Carlson (31)
SMU Digs Leader: Jordyn Schilling (9)
SMU Blocks Leader: Maggie Croft (4)
SMU Ace Leader: Casey Batenhorst (3)
SMU Points Leader: Malaya Jones (18)
Up Next: SMU will take on No. 5 Stanford on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 4 p.m. CT. The match will air on ESPN2.
