CHICAGO, IL (08.30.19) - The UT Dallas volleyball team kicked off the 2019 season Friday evening with a split during the opening day of the UChicago Gargoyle Classic.

The Comets (1-0) opened the campaign with a hard-fought 3-0 win over Concordia Wisconsin before falling in three sets to DePauw in their second match of the day. UTD returns to the court Saturday for two matches before returning home. The Comets will next face Wisconsin-Stevens Point at 11 a.m. Saturday before closing the event at 2 p.m. against host and No. 9-ranked Chicago.

MATCH 1 - UTD 3, Concordia Wisconsin 0
The Comets had to win three close sets to collect an opening-day sweep as UTD held off Concordia Wisconsin, 26-24, 25-23, 28-26, on Friday.

Jillian Via led the Comets with 13 kills, adding seven digs, while Allison Owen and Brynne Blackmar each contributed 10 kills. Blackmar and Lauren Schilling both finished with five blocks as the Comets finished the three-set match with eight total blocks.

The Comets hit .228 for the match, compared to .222 by CUW, saving their best effort for the third set. UTD collected 18 kills in the third stanza, hitting .333, as the Comets wrapped up the sweep.

MATCH 2 - DePauw 3, UTD 0
The Comets struggled offensively, hitting just .106 in their second match of the day. UTD would drop a three-set decision to DePauw, 25-22, 25-17, 25-17.

Blackmar led the Comets with nine kills while Alyssa Porter added seven kills and a block.