TCU volleyball defeated SMU in four sets (25-23, 25-21, 25-27, 25-21) to open the Fight in the Fort tournament. The Horned Frogs snapped a three-game losing streak to improve their record to 5-3. 

“This is our home court, we own it,” first-year Élan McCall said following TCU’s three straight losses on the road. The team is undefeated at home this season.  

The Horned Frogs came out strong in the first set and never squandered their early lead despite a late 7-1 run by the Mustangs.

SMU traded points back and forth early in the second set with the Horned Frogs, but a diving save by McCall with a kill by Katie Clark made it 8-7 and shifted the momentum of the set. TCU didn’t trail after that point and finished the set 25-21 behind senior middle blocker Anna Walsh’s seven kills.

Walsh led the team with 19 kills and 7 blocks.

The Horned Frogs were looking for the sweep in the third set, but SMU capitalized on late errors to take the set 27-25. The team was sitting at match point before back-to-back errors by Clark and sophomore Tori Dilfer allowed the Mustangs back into the game.

The teams again traded points back and forth in the fourth set before TCU went on a 3-0 run to win the set and the match.

McCall’s three kills in the final set gave her 16 for the match, her eighth straight game in double digits, breaking a record set by Head Coach Jill Kramer in 1996.

The first-year outside hitter has yet to record less than 10 kills in a game.

Moving forward, the team sees potential to improve.

“We want to execute our game plan and be disciplined in playing good, smart volleyball,” Walsh said. 

TCU will continue preseason action against Louisiana 6 p.m. Friday and will finish the tournament against Montana State at 2 p.m.