Hurricane Volleyball Hosts SMU For Two-Match Series

TULSA, Okla. — After two weeks on the road, the Golden Hurricane volleyball team returns to the Donald W. Reynolds Center for a two-match home series against SMU (12-6, 6-1 AAC) Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m.

To raise awareness for breast cancer, Friday's match will be dedicated to breast cancer survivors, current fighters, affected families and oncologists. The first 300 fans at the match will receive a free pink Tulsa volleyball T-shirt.

Saturday's match is $1 Day, where fans can get tickets, hotdogs and popcorn for just a dollar. Tickets can be purchased in person, online or by phone at 918-631-4688.

Both matches will stream on ESPN+. Fans unable to attend the action in person can watch it live on ESPN+. TU fans can subscribe to ESPN+ to watch select Golden Hurricane volleyball, soccer, softball and basketball games. ESPN+ is offered at $9.99/month or $99.99/year. To subscribe, go to plus.espn.com. Fans will be able to access ESPN+ content only after they have subscribed.

Tulsa and SMU meet for the 54th time in the overall series, which the Mustangs lead 34-20 with both matchups last year ending in SMU's favor. The Mustangs enter the weekend as the American Athletic Conference's highest-ranked team in the latest national RPI poll at 32. Tulsa's current RPI is 71.

The Mustangs hold the second-place spot in The American West Division at 12-6 overall and 6-1 in league play. Last week, they grabbed a three-set sweep at Charlotte (9-9, 2-4 AAC) and a 3-1 road win over FAU (11-9, 3-4 AAC). SMU has won nine of their last ten matches.

SMU is efficient in its attack. They are second in the conference with 12.58 assists per set, led by setter Celia Cullen, who averages a league-leading 10.29 assists per set. As a team, the Mustangs hold a .243 hitting percentage and average 13.71 kills per set, the second-highest marks in the conference.

Four different Mustangs average 2.5 kills per set or more with Natalie Purdue leading the way with three kills per set. Emma Clothier, an AVCA National Player of the Week (Sept. 24), leads the defense with 69 blocks at 1.05 blocks per set.

For a fourth straight week, graduate outside hitter Kayley Cassaday leads the nation in kills (359), kills per set (5.36), points (384) and attacks (975), while also leading the AAC in points per set (5.73) and attacks per set (14.55).

Senior setter Avery Kalsu is second in The American in assists per set (9.75) and total assists (653) and 14th in digs (195).

Middle blocker Camryn Lingenbrink continues her strong sophomore season for the Hurricane, improving to third in the conference in blocks per set (1.17) and fifth for hitting percentage (.337). Another sophomore middle blocker, Arianna Mongare, ranks ninth in total blocks (60).

Junior libero Marta Pecalli is sixth in the league in digs per set (4.13) and seventh in digs (277).

As a team, Tulsa leads the nation in attacks per set (39.00), while ranking eighth nationwide in digs per set (17.16), 16th for total digs (1,150) and 17th for total attacks (2,613). The Hurricane also leads the league in team attacks (2,613) and digs (1,150), while ranking second for digs per set (17.16).

Hurricane Volleyball Hosts SMU For Two-Match Series

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kayley Cassaday

Avery Kalsu

Camryn Lingenbrink

Arianna Mongare

Marta Pecalli