Despite a team-high 13 kills from sophomore outside hitter Cailin Bula, the SMU Mustangs (17-9 overall, 9-4 in the American Athletic Conference) were unable to hand the Louisville Cardinal’s (18-7 overal, 13-0 in the AAC) their first conference loss, falling 3-1.

Early on, the Mustangs gave Louisville everything it could handle, coming back from a 23-18 deficit to get within one before the Cardinals finished off the opener, 25-23.

SMU was able to take the second set 25-22, and showed the leaders of the AAC that they were in for a fight.

The team totaled 19 errors to Louisville’s 22, and also had two more blocks, but a .160 attack percentage was unable to threaten the Cardinals.

Louisville went on to take the next two sets by a combined score of 50-34 and send the Mustangs back home with their fourth conference loss.

The Mustangs will next play host to Temple at 7:00 p.m. on Friday inside the Dedman Center.