No. 5 SMU Sweeps Duke 3-0 Behind Suli Davis' 16 Kills for Seventh Straight Win
DALLAS, Texas — No. 5 SMU continued its impressive run through the Atlantic Coast Conference on Sunday, November 8, 2026, sweeping Duke 3-0 (25-13, 25-23, 25-19) at Moody Coliseum behind a dominant offensive performance from outside hitter Suli Davis.
Davis recorded a match-high 16 kills while hitting .438, adding eight digs and two blocks as the Mustangs extended their winning streak to seven consecutive matches.
SMU improved to 20-4 overall and 12-2 in ACC play, reaching the 20-win milestone for the fifth consecutive season under head coach Sam Erger.
Duke fell to 16-8 overall and 8-6 in conference competition despite a competitive second set and improved defensive execution.
The Mustangs controlled the match with efficient attacking, strong back-row defense and timely scoring runs, completing their 12th sweep of the season.
Suli Davis Leads SMU With 16 Kills and .438 Hitting Percentage
Davis delivered another outstanding performance, leading SMU with 16 kills on a .438 hitting percentage.
The sophomore outside hitter consistently challenged Duke's defense with powerful attacks and well-placed finishes.
She also contributed eight digs and two blocks, demonstrating her impact on both sides of the net.
Davis has now recorded at least 10 kills in 21 matches this season and 51 times during her collegiate career.
Her most important contribution came late in the second set when Duke threatened to even the match.
With the score tied at 23-23, a Duke service error gave SMU set point before Davis delivered the decisive kill.
The play secured a 25-23 victory and gave the Mustangs a commanding two-set advantage.
Middle blocker Favor Anyanwu added eight kills and three blocks, providing another productive offensive option.
SMU Dominates Opening Set 25-13
SMU established control early in the opening set, building an 11-6 advantage and forcing Duke to call a timeout.
The Mustangs continued attacking effectively, extending their lead to 15-8 at the media break.
Duke struggled to contain SMU's outside hitters as the deficit increased to 18-9.
The Blue Devils used another timeout, but the Mustangs maintained their offensive rhythm.
SMU closed the opening frame with a 25-13 victory, finishing with an outstanding .483 hitting percentage.
Duke managed a .160 hitting percentage as SMU's defense limited its offensive opportunities.
The decisive opening set demonstrated the Mustangs' ability to establish momentum quickly and capitalize on opposing errors.
Duke Rallies Before SMU Takes Second Set 25-23
The second set featured a much more competitive battle.
Duke improved its defensive organization and began challenging SMU's attacking rhythm.
The Mustangs initially maintained control, building a 15-11 advantage before extending their lead to 17-12.
However, Duke responded with a 6-1 scoring run to tie the set at 18-18.
Outside hitter Ashby Zubchevich contributed two kills during the rally, while Breonna Goss provided important blocking support.
Nataly Moravec also delivered a kill to help complete the comeback.
Both teams continued exchanging points as the score eventually reached 23-23.
Duke appeared capable of forcing a different outcome, but a service error gave SMU another opportunity.
Davis capitalized with the final kill, securing the 25-23 second-set victory.
Although Duke held SMU to a .159 hitting percentage in the frame, the Mustangs executed more effectively during the decisive points.
SMU Overcomes Early Duke Lead to Complete Sweep
Duke entered the third set determined to extend the match.
The Blue Devils opened with their strongest start of the afternoon, building a 6-3 advantage.
Defensive specialist Mailinh Godschall contributed two service aces during the early surge.
SMU quickly responded with four consecutive points to take a 7-6 lead.
The Mustangs continued building momentum and, after leading 9-8, produced a 6-1 run to establish a 15-9 advantage at the media timeout.
Duke attempted another comeback late in the frame.
The Blue Devils reduced the deficit to 22-18, but SMU maintained control and prevented them from closing the gap further.
The Mustangs eventually secured a 25-19 victory, completing the straight-set sweep.
Duke finished the third set with a .000 hitting percentage, while SMU hit .160.
The match ended on a Duke service error, sealing SMU's seventh consecutive victory.
Hannah Beauford and Victoria Harris Strengthen SMU's Performance
While Davis led the attacking effort, SMU received important contributions throughout its lineup.
Redshirt freshman setter Hannah Beauford recorded 30 assists and six digs, directing the Mustangs' offense.
Her distribution helped SMU finish with 41 kills and a .255 team hitting percentage.
Junior libero Victoria Harris anchored the back-row defense with 13 digs, extending her streak of double-digit dig performances to eight consecutive matches.
Harris has now recorded at least 10 digs in 20 matches this season and 65 times during her career.
SMU's defensive consistency helped prevent Duke from establishing sustained offensive momentum.
SMU has now held 17 opponents below a .200 hitting percentage this season, winning all 17 matches.
Ashby Zubchevich Leads Duke Despite Offensive Struggles
Duke sophomore outside hitter Ashby Zubchevich led the Blue Devils with 11 kills, providing their most consistent attacking production.
Olivia Wayne contributed seven kills, while Goss recorded a match-high four blocks.
Godschall added eight digs and two service aces.
Despite those individual performances, Duke struggled to maintain offensive consistency against SMU's defensive pressure.
The Blue Devils finished with 29 kills and a .110 hitting percentage.
Duke head coach Ahen Kim acknowledged that his team showed improvement in certain areas compared with its previous loss to No. 2 Pittsburgh.
The Blue Devils demonstrated resilience during the second set and briefly controlled the third, but attacking and service errors prevented them from extending the contest.
Duke will now look to regroup before facing another nationally ranked ACC opponent.
SMU Reaches 20 Wins for Fifth Consecutive Season
Sunday's victory represented another significant achievement for SMU's volleyball program.
The Mustangs reached 20 victories for the fifth consecutive season under Erger, matching the longest streak of 20-win campaigns in program history.
SMU previously accomplished the feat from 2013 through 2017.
The Mustangs also extended their current winning streak to seven matches, matching their longest streak of the season.
SMU has now recorded 12 sweeps during the 2026 campaign.
The program improved to 34-4 in November matches under Erger and remains unbeaten this month at 3-0.
The Mustangs also improved to 3-2 in their all-time series against Duke, winning all three meetings under Erger in straight sets.
With a 12-2 ACC record, SMU remains among the conference's leading teams entering the final stretch of the regular season.
What's Next for SMU and Duke?
SMU returns to Moody Coliseum on Thursday, November 12, for a highly anticipated top-five showdown against Louisville.
The match begins at 7 p.m. CT and will be televised on ESPNU.
Duke returns home to face No. 20 North Carolina on Thursday, November 12, at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET, with coverage on ACC Network Extra.
The Blue Devils will face North Carolina again on November 15 at Carmichael Arena.
For SMU, the victory reinforced its position among the nation's strongest volleyball programs.
Behind Davis' 16 kills, Beauford's efficient setting and Harris' consistent defense, the Mustangs completed another convincing ACC performance.
The 3-0 sweep over Duke extended SMU's winning streak to seven matches and established momentum heading into its nationally significant matchup against Louisville.









