FORT WORTH, Texas (SMU) – The SMU volleyball team kept it close against No. 8 North Carolina, but lost the match 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-21) Saturday in Fort Worth in the final non-conference match of the season. The Mustangs host East Carolina Thursday at 7 p.m. in the first American Athletic Conference match of the season.

Katie Hegarty scored a match-high 14 kills, hitting .360, but SMU was out-hit as a team, .333-.204. Janelle Giordano added eight kills and three blocks for the Mustangs. Taylor Leath led the Tar Heels with 13 kills, and Julia Scoles finished with 10, and each hit .333 for the match.

The Tar Heels won the third set 25-21 to end the match. SMU trailed by five, 16-11, but scored three of the next four points to cut the lead to three, 17-14. The Mustangs were unable to get any closer.

North Carolina got a late run, scoring four straight on three kills and an ace, to take a 1-0 lead in the match with a 25-22 win in the first set. The Mustangs took an early lead, scoring the first four points. The Tar Heels kept it close, but didn't take their first lead until midway through the set, 12-11. It was the first of only three lead changes in a set that had eight ties. SMU hit .265 in the set, led by Hegarty's five kills, but didn't post a block and only managed 11 digs. North Carolina hit .387, with just three errors for the win.

The Tar Heels took a 2-0 lead in the match, holding off SMU for a 25-19 win in the second set. Trailing 10-9, UNC scored three straight points for the fourth lead change of the set. It was the last time the lead would change sides. The Tar Heels stretched the lead to four, 16-12, and held the margin throughout the remainder of the set.