CHICAGO, IL (08.31.19) - The UT Dallas volleyball team wrapped up the opening weekend of the 2019 season Saturday afternoon with a split as part of day two at the Gargoyle Classic, hosted by the University of Chicago.

The Comets (2-2) opened Saturday with a 3-0 win over Wisconsin-Stevens Point before closing out the event with a 3-1 loss to No. 9-ranked and event host Chicago. UTD returns to action next weekend as the Comets the UTD Inviational, starting Friday. The Comets open the event at 12:30 p.m. Friday against Trinity at the UTD Activity Center.

MATCH 1 - UTD 3, Wisconsin-Stevens Point 0
Senior Jillian Via paced the Comets with 16 kills as UTD rolled to a sweep over Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 25-22, 26-24, 25-13.

Via finished the match hitting .317 while adding seven digs and a pair of aces as the Comets picked up their second win in first three outings of the season. Brynne Blackmar added eight kills and a block while Catherine Croft had seven kills.

The Comets hit .217 as a team for the match, finishing with seven total blocks.

MATCH 2 - Chicago 3, UTD 1
Facing their first nationally ranked opponent of the season, the Comets took the opening set agianst No. 9 Chicago before falling to the host Maroons in four sets, 23-25, 29-27, 25-22, 25-17.

Up 1-0 after the opening set, the Comets had an opportunity take full control of the match late in the second stanza when they snagged a 27-26 lead on a Chicago attack error. However, a Comet service error led to three straight Maroon points as Chicago evened the match at a set apiece. The Maroons used the momentum to take sets three and four to complete the comeback.

Via once again led the Comets offensively, finishing with 20 kills while adding 17 digs and two more aces. Croff had 12 kills while Allison Owen added seven kills and three blocks.

The Comets ended the loss hitting .171 as a squad.