The rise of SMU Volleyball

Think about powerhouse volleyball schools. What comes to mind? Nebraska? Stanford? Penn State? Since 1981, the first year that women’s volleyball was added to NCAA programs, these schools, among many others, have ruled over the sport.

Every season there are teams that fail to meet their expectations and teams that outperform their expectations. This season, the SMU Mustangs have been the team that has burst onto the scene.

The Mustangs have soared to a 14-5 (6-2 ACC) record, its best 19-game start since the 2015 season. This impressive showing has included wins over current No. 1 Pitt and No. 2 Nebraska in front of packed crowds at Moody Coliseum.

So, how has a newly-compiled roster along with a fairly new coaching staff put the pieces of success together this quickly?

Following the 2021 season, and a record of 18-12 (14-6 AAC), former head coach Lisa Seifert was dismissed. After a search for a new leader, Director of Athletics Rick Hart decided on Baylor Associate Head Coach Sam Erger.

Erger had been the associate head coach for the previous two seasons, at Baylor University, serving as the team’s recruiting coordinator and setting coach as well. She had annually recruited some of the nation’s top prospects and left the Bears with the No. 9 class for the 2023 cycle.

Upon assuming the position in 2022, the newly minted head coach guided the Mustangs to a 22-10 (15-5 AAC) record, showing immediate improvement and signs of promise for the future.

The 2023 season furthered this upward trajectory, with the team earning a (26-7,18-1 AAC) record, the AAC Championship and an NCAA Tournament bid that extended into the second round where they fell to Texas, the eventual national champion.

The success of the team attracted top transfers such as graduate students Natalie Foster, a middle blocker from Wichita State, Maya Tabron, an outside hitter from the University of Colorado and Nnedi Okammor, a middle blocker from the University of Florida.

Sam Erger’s recruiting expertise also contributed to the team’s overall additions with freshmen Naala Kasunga, Mia Silva and Natalia Newsome joining the squad for 2024.

As the season officially began at the First Serve Showcase in Louisville, SMU was not among the top 25 teams in the nation according to the AVCA D1 Coaches’ Poll.

That, however, would quickly change. After faltering through their first match at Hawaii, the Mustangs rebounded with a four-set victory against San Diego and were primed for their biggest matchup in program history against No. 2 Nebraska.

In front of a crowd of 6,773 in Moody Coliseum, the Mustangs did the unthinkable: They swept Nebraska.

Behind 9 kills each from Graduate students Naya Shime and Maya Tabron, along with a serving masterclass that saw SMU end the three-set match with seven aces, the Power 5 rookies took down the Cornhuskers, handing them what was only their third loss in their previous 39 matches.

Despite their recent success this win was monumental for the program and vaulted them into the national conversation.

The following two weeks saw the new stars of college volleyball go 4-2, including a key sweep over former No. 18 Baylor, which helped land them in the Sept. 16 Coaches’ Poll at No. 22, the program’s first-ever placement in the top-25 rankings.

Despite all the hype surrounding this accomplishment, the team never wavered as it reached a seven-game winning streak before traveling to the Fitzgerald Field House to take on the unanimously, top-ranked Pitt Panthers.

Game 1 would not end in SMU’s favor as Pitt handled them in a very quick three-set loss, however, the next night it was SMU who had the last laugh. The Mustangs handed Pitt their first loss of the season after going 16-0.

The match's result was similar to the Nebraska contest, but this edition spanned five sets with a thrilling 2-1 comeback. Despite some losses to unranked opponents, this outcome proved to the volleyball world that SMU's newfound momentum was not a fluke and that they were a program to watch out for.

Now, after a disappointing loss to Stanford and a “get-right” win vs. Cal, SMU is slated to take on Notre Dame on Friday night and No. 4 Louisville on Sunday at 1 p.m. EST. The SMU-Louisville match will be streamed on ESPN, another first for the Mustangs this season as they will make their ESPN debut.

12th-ranked SMU will host the Cardinals (16-2, 8-0), who have only lost to Nebraska and Penn State, teams that have been ranked within the top three virtually all season long, in what is set to be another nail-biter at Moody Coliseum.

Six new players, a young head coach and a recently revitalized fanbase later, the Mustangs of SMU have become one of the most-talked-about volleyball programs in the country.

Regardless of how the remainder of the season plays out, the team has proven that on any given night in volleyball, anything is possible. The Mustangs have 12 games remaining in their season, which will more likely than not extend into the NCAA WVB tournament, where they will look to continue their push to volleyball glory.

Gabrielle Gillam is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email gmg5808@psu.edu.

Luke Armstrong is a first-year majoring in digital and print journalism. To contact him, email lea5382@psu.edu.