RICHARDSON, TX (09.07,19) - The UT Dallas volleyball team collected another win over a nationally ranked team a part of a two-victory Saturday to close out the 2019 UTD Volleyball Invitational.

The Comets (now 5-3) opened Saturday with a 3-0 win over No. 23-ranked Pacific Lutheran before closing out the event with a 3-1 win over in-state rival Southwestern.

UTD posted 3-1 record over the two-day event, also earning a 3-1 win over No. 7-ranked Trinity on Friday.

The Comets will now open American Southwest Conference play next weekend with a pair of East Division road matches. UTD will visit East Texas Baptist Friday before closing the weekend Saturday at Belhaven.

MATCH 1 - UTD 3, No. 23 Pacific Lutheran 0
Allison Owen sparked the Comets offensive with 15 kills and a .481 hitting percentage as UTD swept Pacific Lutheran, 27-25, 25-23, 25-13, to open Saturday.

The Comets hit .230 as a team in the victory with Jillian Via added nine kills and Brynne Blackmar pitching in seven kills. UTD also dominated the net, finishing the sweep with 15 total blocks. Lauren Schilling led the Comets with ten total blocks, two of which were solo, while Owen added seven blocks.

MATCH 2 - UTD 3, Southwestern 1
The Comets got in an early hold but bounced back for a four-set win over Southwestern, 25-27, 25-20, 25-21, 25-20, to close out the weekend.

UTD battled back in the opening set after falling behind late and even took a 25-24 lead before the Pirates scored three straight points to close out the 27-25 win in the first stanza. The Comets would bounced back by hitting better than .230 for each of the following three sets and dominated Southwestern throughout the rest of the match.

Catherine Croft led a balanced Comet attack with 14 kills while Owen and Via added 11 kills and Alyssa Porter contributed 10 kills. UTD finished with eight total blocks with Schilling contributing to six rejections.