Box Score RICHARDSON, TX (08.29.14) - The UT Dallas volleyball team took a dramatic 3-1 victory over Hendrix College in its opening match of the Comets' Labor Day Tournament Friday afternoon; before faltering in a 3-0 loss to Trinity University in the nightcap.

UT DALLAS def. HENDRIX 25-22, 13-25, 28-26, 25-17
 

The Comets (1-0) topped the Warriors 25-22, 13-25, 28-26, 25-17 to open the 2014 season with a victory. UTD had to rally late to win the important third set of the match, then put Hendrix away with a strong showing in the final set.

 Senior Taylor Toso led the team with 12 kills, but sophomore Michelle Toso hit an impressive .400 while nailing 11 points on the attack. Freshman Allie Harman hit .350 in tallying 10 kills in her first collegiate match with the Comets. Sophomore Holyn Handley added eight kills and had 14 digs. Libero Mary Speights led the team on defense with 17 digs in the four-set match. Junior setter Kayla Jordan had 38 assists.

Despite the 3-1 win, the match was close throughout. UTD trailed 20-19 in the opening set before closing out with a 6-2 run. In the second set, the Comets hit a mire minus-.061, managing just six kills while being overwhelmed in a 13-25 loss. But UTD rallied in the third set, fighting off four ties scores in the final points to take the 28-26 win. Then, in the deciding fourth set, the Comets erased all doubt with a 13-7 run - hitting .516 as a team - to finish the set and the match with a 25-17 victory.

#13 TRINITY UNIVERSITY def. UT DALLAS 25-22, 25-20, 25-14

The Comets could not keep the momentum rolling in the nightcap against perrenial powerhouse Trinity University, falling in three sets, 25-22, 25-20, 25-14.

UTD hit a disappointing .059 for the match, including a minus-.116 mark in the final set. After battling the nationally-ranked Lady Tigers close in the first two sets, things came unravelled in the finale.

Toso and Handley combined for 15 kills, but neither hit over .150 for the match. The Lady Tigers blocked 13 UTD shots and the Comets committed 25 attacking errors.

Defensively, the Comets held Trinity to a .252 night.

Jordan added 20 assists to her season total, despite missing much of the second set tending to an injury.