RICHARDSON, TX (09.01.17) - The No. 8-ranked UT Dallas volleyball kicked off the 2017 season Friday with the first of two days at the Pacific Coast Classic, hosted by three NCAA Division III California schools.
The Comets (1-1) led off the event with a five-set heart-breaking loss at No. 25 La Verne, falling the Leopards, 22-25, 18-25, 25-10, 25-22, 13-15, but bounced back for a three-set win at Pomona-Pitzer, downing the Sagehens, 25-10, 25-19, 25-18.
In Friday's season opener, the Comets found themselves in a 2-0 hole to host La Verne before taking both sets three and four to force a decisive fifth stanza. UTD batted with the Leopards in the fifth only to allow the home team to take the victory with two final kills after the Comets forced a 13-13 tie.
Emma Wallbrown led UTD with 14 kills, hitting .226, and added five blocks.
Kristyn Schott had 11 kills and four blocks. Setters
Caroline Shecterle and
Krista Martin had 28 and 20 assists, respectively.
The Comets bounced back with a quick sweep over Pomona-Pitzer later Friday night. UTD hit .293 as a team with
Lauren Schilling leading the pack with 10 kills in the three-set victory.
Jillian Via tallied 18 digs (6.0 per set) as the UTD defense limited the host Sagehens to just a .024 team attack percentage.
UTD returns to action Saturday with a pair of matches on the campus Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. The Comets will face Wisconsin-Eau Claire at 3:30 p.m. before squaring off with No. 7-ranked C-M-S at 8 p.m.
