SMU Volleyball Stuns No. 2 Pitt, Ends 58-Match Home Win Streak

DALLAS - The SMU Mustangs didn't just knock off one of college volleyball's powerhouse programs Wednesday night. They shattered a streak that had lasted more than three years.

No. 6 SMU volleyball stunned No. 2 Pittsburgh in four sets, 21-25, 25-19, 38-36, 25-22, ending the Panthers' remarkable 58-match home winning streak and handing Pitt its first defeat of the 2026 season.

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The statement victory improved SMU to 13-2 overall and a perfect 5-0 in ACC competition, extending the Mustangs' conference winning streak to 14 matches.

And this wasn't just another ranked victory.

Pittsburgh entered the showdown undefeated at 14-0, having won 28 consecutive sets. But after dropping the opener, SMU took control of a heavyweight matchup that featured one of the most dramatic sets of the college volleyball season.

The turning point came in an extraordinary third set.

With neither team willing to surrender, the Mustangs survived a marathon battle before finally prevailing 38-36. Natalia Newsome delivered the decisive kills, giving SMU a commanding two-set advantage.

Newsome finished with a career-high 17 kills while hitting an outstanding 51.9 percent. Suli Davis matched her with 17 kills, adding nine digs and four blocks.

Jadyn Livings contributed 13 kills, while Gabi Placide and Favor Anyanwu chipped in 10 apiece.

But the Mustangs' dominance wasn't limited to their offense.

Anyanwu delivered nine blocks, helping SMU overwhelm Pittsburgh at the net with a 12.5-6 advantage in team blocks. Victoria Harris collected 20 digs and four service aces, while setter Hannah Beauford distributed a career-high 54 assists.

SMU finished with a 34.7 percent hitting percentage compared with Pittsburgh's 25.2 percent.

Even a spectacular performance from Pitt star Olivia Babcock, who recorded 25 kills while breaking the Panthers' career records for kills and service aces, couldn't prevent the upset.

Under head coach Sam Erger, SMU has now defeated six top-five opponents and nine top-10 teams.

And the Mustangs aren't finished with Pittsburgh.

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The two nationally ranked programs meet again Sunday at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, giving SMU an immediate opportunity to complete a stunning season sweep.

For a program rapidly establishing itself among the nation's elite, Wednesday's victory sends an unmistakable message: