No. 8 SMU Stuns No. 9 Texas In Five-Set Thriller At Moody Coliseum

DALLAS, Texas (TXAN 24) — No. 8 SMU delivered a statement win on its home court Wednesday night, knocking off No. 9 Texas in a thrilling five-set battle at Moody Coliseum.

The Mustangs held their nerve when the match came down to the final set, closing out the Longhorns 15-10 to secure the dramatic victory.

The matchup was part of the ACC/SEC Challenge’s “Showdown at the Net,” bringing two of the nation’s top programs together in Dallas. SMU entered the night ranked No. 8 nationally, while Texas came in at No. 9.

For SMU, the victory was another major moment in a program that has quickly established itself among the country’s elite. The Mustangs reached the NCAA Regional Semifinals for the first time in program history last season and entered Wednesday night having won 11 straight home matches.

The night also carried a personal connection for former Dallas Cowboys standout and ESPN analyst Marcus Spears, who was inside Moody Coliseum supporting his daughter, Texas volleyball player Cari Spears.

Cari Spears and several SMU players have history together, having played club volleyball at Texas Advantage Volleyball (TAV). Spears and SMU’s Jadyn Livings also played together at Prestonwood Christian Academy.

A packed Moody Coliseum watched the eighth-ranked Mustangs survive one of the biggest volleyball matchups to hit Dallas this season; and finish the night by taking down their No. 9 in-state rival in five.