WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State (8-1, 3-1) dropped its first match of the season with a 3-2 heartbreaker to SMU. The Mustangs won by scores of 24-16, 18-25, 25-20, 25-19 and 16-14.
 
Sophia Rohling led the Shockers with 18 kills and hit .417 along with three digs and six blocks. Megan Taflinger had a double-double with 13 kills and 14 digs, while McKayla Wuensch also had a double-double with 21 assists and 16 digs. Sina Uluave led the Shockers with 23 digs and Kayce Litzau led the Shockers with 28 assists.
 
The first set went back and forth until a Nicole Anderson kill put the Shockers up 10-7. Back-to-back kills from Brylee Kelly gave the Shockers a 20-17 advantage, but the Mustangs pulled within 22-21 on a kill by Kaylyn Winkler. The Shockers reached set point 24-22 on a kill by Megan Taflinger, but SMU scored two-straight to tie it at 24. A Brooke Smith kill and a Taflinger service ace gave the Shockers the 26-24 win.
 
The Shockers used a 10-0 run, behind the serving of Emma Wright, to take a 12-3 lead in the second set. Kills from Rohling and Taflinger pushed the lead to 23-14. SMU scored four of the next five points to pull within 24-18, but a Wright kill gave the Shockers the 25-18 win.
 
The two teams traded points throughout the fourth set until back-to-back Mustang hitting errors gave the Shockers the 19-16 lead. SMU answered with a 9-1 run to win the third set 25-20.
 
SMU raced out to a 6-0 lead in the fourth set and continued to hold a large lead until the Shockers used a 6-0 run to pull within 22-19. The Mustangs scored the final three points to take the set 25-19.
 
The fifth set featured a back and forth battle. With the score tied at eight, a Rohling and Smith block gave the Shockers the 9-8 lead. Three-straight Mustang points put SMU in front 11-9. A 3-1 Shocker run, highlighted by kills from Rohling and Taflinger tied the score at 12. A Rohling kill put WSU in front 13-12, but a kill and a block by SMU brought the Mustangs to match point at 14-13. An attack error by the Mustangs tied the score at 14, but SMU used two-straight kills from Hannah Jacobs to win 16-14.
 
The Shockers are next in action on Fri., March 5 when they host Memphis at 7 p.m. inside Charles Koch Arena. For tickets, go to GoShockers.com or call the Shocker Ticket Office at (316) 978-FANS.