NEW ORLEANS (SMU) – SMU played a second straight five-set match, and again came up short, losing 3-2 at Tulane Sunday (25-19, 19-25, 25-27, 25-17, 10-15). Freshman Mekenzi Heckmann led all attackers with 20 kills, reaching 20 in consecutive matches for the first time this season.

Hannah Jacobs scored 12 kills, and Rachel Woulfe finished with nine. The Mustangs (7-5, 0-2 The American) fell behind 3-0 to start the final set. The Green Wave (12-3, 2-0 The American) held at least a two-point advantage the rest of the way for the win.

Tulane finished with 15 blocks, including seven in the second set. Tulane gained the advantage with a win in the third set. Trailing by two, 14-12, SMU scored four unanswered to take a 16-14 lead and force Tulane into a timeout. The Green Wave responded with a 7-0 run to take a 21-16 lead. SMU battled back, taking a 23-22 lead, but the Mustangs could not get the two-point advantage and end the set. The score was tied three more times before Tulane's fifth block of the set pushed the score to 27-25.

SMU answered with a 25-17 win in the fourth set to extend the match. The Mustangs committed just one error in the fourth, which was the only set Tulane did not record a block. The Mustangs posted four in the eight-point win.

Lily Heim assisted on 50 of SMU's 62 kills, and had 11 digs. Montana Watts had 17 digs and three service aces, and Kendall Patterson finished with 122 digs and three assists. Alex Glover and Kaylyn Winkler each had five blocks, and Heim added four.

The Mustangs host Tulane Friday at 7 p.m. in the first home conference match of the season.