RICHARDSON, TX (09.06.19) - The UT Dallas volleyball team opened up the UTD Invitational Friday afternoon with a 3-1 upset of No. 7-ranked Trinity before dropping its second match of the day, 3-0, to Aurora.

The Comets (3-3) return to action at 10 a.m. Saturday against No. 23 Pacific Lutheran and will close out the event at 3 p.m. Saturday against regional rival Southwestern.

MATCH 1 - UTD 3, No. 7 Trinity 1
Sophomore Allison Owen collected a match-high 16 kills as the Comets opened the 2019 UTD Invite with a 3-1 win over No. 7-ranked and previously unbeaten Trinity. Teammates Brynne Blackmar and Catherine Croft each added 13 kills in the upset.

The Comets hit .238 as a team as the squad opened play in the toughest overall tournaments they will complete in all season. Madison Ball sparked the UTD defense with 19 digs as the Comets averaged better than 15.0 digs per set in the victory.

MATCH 2 - Aurora 3, UTD 0
The Comets could not build on the momentum gained in the upset of Trinity earlier in the day as UTD wrapped up the first day of play at its home event with a 3-0 loss to Aurora.

UTD hit just .102 as a team while Blackmar led the squad with 12 kills. Abby Jones finished with a match-high 17 digs.