TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (SMU)-- The SMU volleyball fell to (RV) Auburn 3-1 (22-25, 25-27, 20-25, 21-25) on Saturday afternoon at Tully Gymnasium on the campus of Florida State. 

The Mustangs split their pair of matches at the Seminole Invitational after sweeping Florida State on Friday. Auburn and FSU are both receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll.

Natalie Perdue and Celia Cullen both posted double-doubles. Perdue recorded season-highs in kills (15) along with digs (12), and Cullen passed out season-highs in assists (41) and digs (13). 

Lauren Ohlinger and Naya Shime put together solid performances for the Mustangs. Ohlinger notched 13 kills and three digs. The graduate outside hitter turned in 30 kills across two matches at the Seminole Invitational. Shime added 13 kills, four digs and three blocks. Emma Clothier paired eight kills along with three digs and a pair of assists, while Sina Uluave recorded 10 digs and handed out four assists.  Freshman Hannah Whittingstall tallied a pair of kills and three blocks in her first action as a Mustang.

Perdue and Clothier were named to the Seminole Invitational All-Tournament Team. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Set One: 
Starting the match for SMU were Celia Cullen, Alex Glover, Lauren Ohlinger, Emma Clothier, Natalie Perdue, Naya Shime, and Sina Uluave. The Mustangs won a tough challenge to take the first point of the contest. Cullen got going early, chipping in a kill and an assisted block with Clothier to cut into the Mustangs' early deficit. SMU regained the lead at 9-8. An Auburn run was halted after a substitution error, bringing the set back to even. The teams battled back and forth until Auburn used three unanswered to create separation and force an SMU timeout. The Mustangs fought back, but back-to-back Auburn points sealed set one 25-22. 

Set Two: 
A Shime kill, a block from Clothier and Perdue, and a Cullen kill highlighted a 5-0 run that opened the frame for SMU. Cullen's service ace, paired with back-to-back kills from Ohlinger put SMU up 13-4 and forced the Tigers to burn their second timeout of the set. A pair of Perdue kills gave SMU an 18-10 advantage. Auburn climbed back in the set using five straight points, forcing SMU to call time. The Mustangs came out of the pause on fire, winning six out of the following seven points to extend its lead to 24-17. An Auburn attack error sealed the set for SMU. 

Set Three: 
Both teams went point for point to begin the third frame. The teams continued to go back and forth, and three unanswered from each side left Auburn with a 15-13 lead. Another Tiger run put them ahead 19-14. Freshman Hannah Whittingstall made an impact in set two, recording the first kill and assisted block of her career, cutting the Mustangs' deficit down to four on two separate occasions. SMU stayed within striking distance but ultimately dropped the set 25-20.

Set Four: 
Both teams traded blows to begin the set. Whittingstall and Shime recorded an assisted block to even the set at six. Perdue's 12th kill of the match gave SMU a 10-8 lead. Auburn took five out of six to lead 16-13. Using Whittingstall and Perdue kills, SMU rattled off three in a row to tie the match at 16. The Tigers answered taking three of the next four points to take control of the set. SMU rattled off two straight out of a timeout, cutting its deficit to 20-18. Back-to-back kills from Perdue and Clothier catapulted a late push, but Auburn finished off the Mustangs 25-21. 

FROM THE COACHES:
"Auburn is a great team and an awesome way to challenge this team early with their physicality," Assistant Coach Christa Branson said. "We can learn from every opponent, and we are ready to take this into our training as we prepare for Baylor on Wednesday."

SMU LEADERS:
SMU Kills Leader: Natalie Perdue (15)
SMU Assist Leader: Celia Cullen (41)
SMU Digs Leader: Celia Cullen (13)
SMU Blocks Leader: Hannah Whittingstall/Naya Shime (3)

TEAM RECORDS SERIES NOTES:

• With the loss, SMU fell to 2-3 on the year.
• Saturday was the fifth match between SMU and Auburn. SMU trails the all-time series 2-3.

TEAM NOTES:

• SMU posted season team-highs in kills (55) and assists (52). 
• Three different Mustangs recorded 10+ kills for the second time this season. 
• Three different Mustangs recorded 5+ kills for the fourth time this season.
• Four different Mustangs recorded 5+ kills for the second time this season.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES:

• Natalie Perdue recorded a season-high (15) kills, and recorded her first double-double of the season. Perdue led the Mustangs in kills for the second time this year. She also posted a season-high in digs with 12. 
• Celia Cullen recorded season-highs in assists (41) and digs (13) on the way to her first double-double of the season. Cullen also tied her career-high in kills (3). Cullen led the Mustangs in digs for the first time this season, and has led the team in assists in all five matches.  
• Naya Shime led the Mustangs in total blocks (3) for the second time this season. 

UP NEXT:      
SMU returns home for its season opener against Baylor on Wednesday at 7 p.m.