OSHKOSH, WI (10.21.17) - In arguably its toughest road trip of the season, the No. 22-ranked UT Dallas volleyball team was handed three losses over the weekend at the Wisconsin-Oshkosh Invitational.
The Comets (18-8) led off the event with a marathon five-set loss to No. 18 Illinois Wesleyan Friday and then turned right around and dropped a 3-1 decision to Wisconsin-Stevens Point, a team which is receiving votes in the latest AVCA/NCAA D-III Top 25. UTD then closed out the weekend Saturday morning with a 3-1 loss to No. 7-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater.
UTD returns to action Tuesday night when the Comets close American Southwest Conference play at home against LeTourneau. Game time is 7 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center. With a win over the YellowJackets, UTD would lock up the ASC East Division title outright and would host the ASC Tournament, Nov. 2-4.
MATCH 1 - No. 18 Illinois Wesleyan 3, No. 22 UTD 2
Freshman
Alana Geymer had a season-high 20 kills but it wasn't enough as the Comets fell to No. 18 Illinois Wesleyan to open their weekend. UTD dropped the decision to the Titans, 25-20, 28-30, 25-21, 21-25, 15-17.
Geymer hit .421 in the five-set loss while adding four blocks for a team-high 22 points.
Emma Wallbrown and
Alex Nolan each added 10 kills while
Lauren Schilling ended the contest with six blocks. The Comets hit .186 as a team, compared to .180 by IWU.
MATCH 2 - Wisconsin-Stevens Point 3, No. 22 UTD 1
After the hard-fought loss to Illinois Wesleyan, the Comets hit .221 as a team in their second match of the day, but would still fall to Wisconsin Stevens-Point in four sets (22-25, 20-25, 25-20, 17-25).
Geymer again led the Comets, this time with 13 kills while
Kristyn Schott had 11 kills and
Sydney Riordan finished with 10 kills. The Comets collected five blocks and had seven service aces in the defeat.
MATCH 3 - No. 7 Wisconsin-Whitewater 3, No. 22 UTD 1
Wallbrown had 15 kills and hit .542 as the Comets battled with No. 7 Wisconsin-Whitewater before falling in four sets. UTD dropped its final match of the weekend 25-20, 18-25, 25-15, 28-26.
Riordan added nine kills while Schott contributed eight kills in the loss. The Comets hit just .151 as a team, but limited UWW to a .154 team hitting percentage, thanks to nine blocks. Wallbrown, Riordan and Schilling each had three blocks.
