Box Score TULSA, Okla. (SMU) – The SMU volleyball team used a balanced attack to defeat Tulsa 3-1 Sunday (25-20, 25-16, 23-25, 25-22), improving to 17-7 overall and 10-4 in the American Athletic Conference. The victory in its final road match of the regular season kept SMU in first place in the league's west division.

Hannah Jacobs led the team with 17 kills, while Rachel Woulfe scored 16 two days after a career-high 22 at Wichita State. The sophomore duo was joined in double figures by Kaylyn Winkler, who finished with 12. Lily Heim recorded 51 assists, reaching the mid-century mark in four sets for the second straight match.

It appeared as if the teams were destined for a fifth set for the second time this season as Tulsa held a 16-12 lead in the fourth. Then a Tulsa service error brought Heckmann back onto the floor. The freshman scored five consecutive kills, to spark an 8-1 run by the Mustangs. When Jacobs scored at the end of the run, the scoreboard read SMU 20, Tulsa 17. SMU ended the match with a kill from Woulfe for the 25-22 win.

Tulsa claimed a two-point win in the third set to extend the match. Trailing 24-21, SMU scored twice before Tulsa called timeout. After the break, the home team scored on its third attempt at set point. The Mustangs won the first set, 25-20. With a 15-13 lead, SMU scored four unanswered with three kills to push the advantage to six points. It was enough to propel the Mustangs to the opening-set victory.

SMU cruised to a 25-16 win in the second set, outscoring Tulsa 16-10 on the attack for the second straight set. The difference between sets one and two was SMU's attack efficiency. The Mustangs hit .333 in the second, needing just 36 attempts, while it took 46 attacks for 16 kills in the first set, .217.

The Mustangs finished the match with a .249 attack percentage and 54 kills. SMU totaled 102 digs, with Montana Watts recording 26. Bria' Merchant had 17 digs, while Heim and Kendall Patterson each tallied 15.

SMU returns home for the final two conference matches. The Mustangs face Tulane Friday at 7 p.m. in Moody Coliseum, and then host Houston Sunday at 1 p.m.