BELTON, TX (11.08.14) - The UT Dallas volleyball team got the first of three wins it will need Saturday in an effort to claim its first American Southwest Conference title since 2009, knocking out East Texas Baptist for the second time in the Championship Tournament, 25-18, 25-14, 25-17.

The Comets will have time to grab a quick break, then prepare for a rematch with the host UMHB Cru, who knocked UTD down to the loser's bracket with a five-set win Friday night. UTD would have to defeat the Cru, which has not lost a match in the tournament this weekend, twice to claim the title. The first championship game is set to start at 3 pm in UMHB's Mayborn Campus Center.

The two teams split their regular season series before UMHB won the crucial winner's bracket final last night.

After the Friday night heartbreaker, the Comets (22-10) came out determined in the Saturday opener. UTD trailed 9-3 early in the first set against the Tigers, but went on a remarkable 15-1 run to go up 18-10 before finishing out with the 25-18 victory. In the second set, the Comets again used a big run in the middle, outscoring ETBU 8-2 on its way to a dominating 25-14 victory. UTD jumped out to an early 13-5 lead in the third set and held off the Tigers to advance to the title game.

Taylour Toso topped UTD with 12 kills, four blocks and two aces while Meredith Crawford chipped in 11 kills, 13 digs and two blocks. The Comets hit .289 in the match, holding ETBU to a .118 afternoon.