Volleyball On SI

SMU Volleyball Head Coach Sam Erger Suspended for ''Impermissible Communication'

The Mustangs' head coach served her suspension during the team's recent road trip.

Maren Angus

SMU Mustangs head coach Sam Erger watches the SMU Mustangs and Penn State Nittany Lions volleyball match at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images
SMU Mustangs head coach Sam Erger watches the SMU Mustangs and Penn State Nittany Lions volleyball match at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

When SMU rolled into Fort Collins to play Colorado State on Saturday and UC Davis on Sunday, head coach Sam Erger was nowhere to be found.

A spokesperson confirmed Erger's absence in an email to Volleyball On SI Thursday afternoon.

"SMU Athletics self-imposed a suspension on head volleyball coach Sam Erger due to an impermissible communication. Coach Erger served the suspension on Aug. 29 and Aug. 30. Due to NCAA confidentiality requirements, we will have no further comment."

Volleyball On SI's Abbie Harris noted Erger's absence in a post on X (formerly Twitter) Saturday during the match against Colorado State.

Erger returned from her two-game suspension on Wednesday when the Mustangs lost in five sets to TCU.

Volleyball On SI initially contacted SMU for comment on Tuesday.

Erger was named head coach of the SMU volleyball program in February 2022 and is in her fifth season at the helm of the Mustangs.

A two-time AVCA Southwest Region Coach of the Year, Erger has led SMU three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a program-best Sweet Sixteen finish in 2025.

The Mustangs finished last season with 27 wins (27-6), tying the program record for wins in a season, which included 17 conference victories in just the second year as a member of the ACC.

Mustangs Sweep Colorado Road Trip without Erger

SMU defeated Colorado State and UC Davis without Erger, winning in four sets over the Rams and in five sets against the Aggies.

Sophomore outside hitter Suli Davis dominated Colorado State, recording her first double-double as a Mustang with 22 kills, hitting .314, and 14 digs Saturday night.  

Freshman outside hitter Levariya Pinder was a kill shy of the first double-double of her career in her first collegiate match, logging nine kills, 10 digs and two aces.

Davis led the Mustangs again on Sunday against UC Davis with 16 kills, even digs and two blocks. Senior pin hitter Gabi Placide added 15 kills, hitting .303 with five digs and two blocks.

Junior middle blocker Natalia Newsome was the other Mustang with double-figure kills, adding 11 kills on a .643 clip.

SMU Falls to TCU in Erger's Return

The No. 8 SMU Mustangs dropped Wednesday's contest to the No. 18 TCU Horned Frogs in five sets (25-16, 22-25, 16-25, 28-26, 12-15).

Davis led the way with 15 kills and six digs.

Freshman Bojana Ambulija was a bright spot in her collegiate debut for the Mustangs with 13 kills, hitting .241.

Newsome registered a career-high 13 kills and senior Gabi Placide notched 11 kills and five digs.   

Up next for the Mustangs a trip to San Diego for a match against USD at 9 p.m. CT. It will be streamed on ESPN+.

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Maren Angus
MAREN ANGUS

Maren Angus was born in Los Angeles and raised in Nashville, Tenn. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and has been a sports writer since 2008. She has been covering college softball since 2016 for various outlets including Softball America, ESPNW and Hurrdat Sports. She is currently the publisher of Softball On SI and also serves as an analyst for Nebraska softball games on Nebraska Public Media and B1G+.

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