Takeaways from SMU Volleyball’s Opener Versus Former National Champions Texas A&M

The No. 11 SMU Mustangs opened the season by sweeping the reigning NCAA champion and current No. 8 Texas A&M Aggies on Sunday, August 23.

Despite losing six seniors last season, including star setter Averi Carlson, the Mustangs didn’t miss a step in knocking off the Aggies, winning three consecutive sets 27-25, 25-19 and 25-20.

Sweep City!!! pic.twitter.com/yyvZvQEr4F
— SMU Volleyball (@SMUVolleyball) August 23, 2026

Here are some takeaways from the electric season opener in Milwaukee.

Pardon Me For Living!

Despite the 2025 team kill leader Malaya Jones graduating, and returning star Jadyn Livings out with a knee injury, the Mustangs’ offense looked as potent as ever.

In Livings’ absence, BYU transfer Suli Davis, Ole Miss transfer Gabi Placide and returning sophomore Christa Wilburn rose to the occasion for the Mustangs. Davis, the reigning Big XII Freshman of the Year, picked up right where she left off, leading SMU with 15 kills on a .211 hit percentage.

Placide tallied nine kills on 18 attempts, and Wilburn scored five of her own. The Mustangs were scoring from everywhere, moving across the net and drilling some impressive back-row kills. SMU outhit the reigning champs .301 to .125. When Livings returns, SMU will easily have the most terrifying attack in college volleyball.

Fresh Sets

The biggest question for SMU was how the Mustangs would replace Carlson, the superstar setter that was drafted seventh overall in the 2025 Major League Volleyball Draft. In her first collegiate start, redshirt freshman Hannah Beauford may have answered every single concern.

Beauford was outstanding against Texas A&M, totalling a match-best 33 assists. The next-closest was Texas A&M’s Kirra Musgrove with 17. Beauford was named the match’s MVP.

From nearby Prosper High School, Beauford was ranked the 21st best player and fourth best setter in Texas as a high school prospect. She sat for a year behind Carlson and serve specialist Casey Batenhorst, but appears ready to take the reins in 2026.

The Best Offense is a Good Defense

71% of the world is covered in water. The rest very well may be covered by Victoria Harris, the junior transfer from South Carolina. Harris recorded 13 digs in her SMU debut, also a match-best, diving into the stands and across the entire court to extend rallies in all three sets.

As great as Harris was, the highlight of SMU’s win was undoubtedly its front-row blocking. SMU matched up perfectly against a Texas A&M team that won last year’s championship off its ability to block, knocking down six more attacks than the Aggies.

2025 AVCA Honorable Mention All-American Favor Anyanwu led the way, adding seven blocks to seven kills on offense. Fellow middle blocker Natalia Newsome was excellent as well, aiding with four blocks.

Giant Killers

It was a complete win for head coach Sam Erger’s squad, which has now beaten six top-ten teams since joining the ACC. Better yet, it’s the second time in as many years that the Mustangs have swept Texas A&M, as SMU also beat the Aggies 3-0 on Sept. 9, 2025.

No team on the Hilltop has had more success in winning high-leverage games than SMU Volleyball, who begin their season 1-0 and will undoubtedly become a top-ten team before the highly anticipated Spikes Under the Lights event on Thursday, Aug. 27.

Davis, Anyanwu and the Mustangs will get their chance to slay some more giants in AT&T Stadium, as SMU will compete against Penn State, Florida and Nebrasks for a $1 million dollar prize.

Great SMU Mustang content found here

Stay up-to-date on SMU athletics by bookmarking SMU On SI and follow us on X/Twitter.

Add us as a preferred source on Google