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Texas-Dallas Drops Two Matches To Ranked Teams In 1-3 Showing At Trinity Tournament
Story and Photo Courtesy of the UT-Dallas Athletics Site
SAN ANTONIO, TX (10.23.10) - The UT Dallas
volleyball team had high hopes of improving its national reputation
this weekend at the Trinity University National Invitational.
Despite dropping three out of four matches - including two to
nationally-ranked teams – the Comets put on an impressive
showing against some of the top competition in the country.
22nd-ranked UTD (now 21-5) dropped extremely close, hard-fought
matches in all three losses, and did pick up a win Saturday against
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
The Comets opened the tournament Friday dropping back-to-back
matches for the first time since 2008, falling in four to No. 16
Wisconsin-Eau Claire and in five to Trinity, the formerly ranked
hosts. UTD swept past CMS in three games Saturday afternoon before
dropping its finale to No. 17 New York University in four close
games.
TOURNAMENT
CENTRAL
#16
UW-Eau Claire 3, #22 UT Dallas 1 (27-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-21)
BOX SCORE
Sophomore Dana Hilzendager had a match-high 15
kills, but the Comets could not overcome nine service errors as
they dropped just their third match of the season. UTD hit just
.148 as a team as no other Comet would reach double-digit kills
against the Blugolds. Freshman Kailey
Killingsowrth had nine kills and sophomore Halea
Williams added eight kills. Senior setter Niki
Calverley had 36 assists and freshman Kelsey
Zerkel led the Comets with 13 digs.
Trinity
3, #22 UT Dallas 2 (28-30, 24-26, 25-23, 25-15, 16-14) BOX
SCORE
The Comets jumped to an 2-0 lead, but could not secure the victory
as Trinity battled back for three straight sets, two of which were
nailbiters. Hilzendager continued to lead UTD offensively as she
had 18 kills in the marathon match. Senior Jessica
Nassau added 13 kills and senior Amber
Wetz had 11 kills. Calverley ended the match with 53
assists while Zerkel sparked UTD with 30 digs.
#22
UT Dallas 3, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 0 (25-19, 25-20, 31-29)
BOX SCORE
Hilzendager and Nassau paired of for 25 kills as the
Comets hit .209 as a team in the sweep of CMS. Hilzendager led UTD
with 15 kills and a .316 hitting percentage while Nassua added 10
kills and a .304 clip. Hilzendager also led the Comets with 17 digs
while Calverley had 42 assists in the short match.
#17
NYU 3, #22 UT Dallas 1 (29-27, 28-30, 25-20, 17-25)
After two tight sets to open the match, NYU pulled
away with two strong games to grab the win. Killingworth led four
Comets in double digits with 17 kills and hit .308 for the match.
Wetz had 13 kills, Hilzendager added 12 kills and Nassau had 10
kills. Calverley ended the match with 53 assists while Zerkel had a
match-high 24 digs.
UTD, currently ranked No. 4 in the NCAA D-III South Region, is now
1-3 this season against nationally ranked opponents. UTD dropped a
four-game match at then No. 6-ranked Wisconsin-Osh Kosh on Sept.
11, and then defeated then No. 18 Southwestern in four sets on Oct.
7.
The Comets return to action Tuesday as they visit rival
Texas-Tyler in an American Southwest Conference show down. Game
time is 7 p.m. in Tyler.
