TUCSON, Ariz. (SMU) – The SMU volleyball team (2-3) dropped a pair of matches on the first day of the Arizona Invitational, falling to [RV] Arizona, 3-0 (25-11, 25-21, 25-21), and Pepperdine, 3-1 (27-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-19).

The Mustangs recorded seven blocks in the second set against Pepperdine, evening the match, 1-1, but the Waves (4-1) won the third and fourth sets for the victory. It was a pair of close sets they gave Pepperdine the win, with SMU losing 27-25 in the first and 25-23 in the third. Katie Hegarty scored 10 kills to lead the SMU offense, and Morgan Heise recorded 23 digs.

In the nightcap, the Mustangs were close in the second and third sets, but the Wildcats (2-3), a team just outside the top 25 that has two losses to top-10 teams, edged out the sweep on their home court. SMU out-blocked the Wildcats 7-4 overall, but Arizona had three players with at least 10 kills in the win. Heise finished with 24 digs, and Hegarty again led the SMU offense, scoring nine kills. Kendall Patterson had 21 assists and nine digs. The freshman had 20 assists against Pepperdine with SMU running a 6-2 system.

SMU wraps up play at the Arizona Invitational Saturday against Alabama State at 5:30 p.m. CT/3:30 MT. The Mustangs are on the road again the next two weekends before opening American Athletic Conference at home Sept. 22.