University of Texas at Dallas Athletics

AUSTIN, Texas - The UT Dallas volleyball team lost to St. Edward's University 25-22, 25-19, 26-28, 25-14 at the Recreation and Convocation Center Tuesday night.

First Set Highlights  
- The Comets (5-17, 2-9 Lone Star Conference) took an early lead with a 5-3 advantage, capitalizing on errors from the Hilltoppers (7-9, 4-7 LSC). 
- SEU fought back to tie the score at 12-12, aided by consecutive service aces from Kelli Fording. 
- Both teams exchanged leads, reaching a tense 21-21 tie before the Hilltoppers pulled ahead. 
- St. Edward's closed the set with a 4-1 run, winning 25-22.

Second Set Highlights
- UTD started strong with a 4-1 advantage, highlighted by three kills from Jane Burkhardt.
- St. Edward's answered with a 7-0 run, featuring kills from Fording and Carrington Jaimes.
- The teams traded points, with Lila Westphal adding two kills for UTD to level the score at 11-11.
- SEU closed the set with four consecutive points, including a kill from Landry Baughman, winning 25-19.

Third Set Highlights
- The Comets opened with a balanced attack, gaining an early advantage with consecutive kills from Tylee Hale, assisted by Abby Gentner, pushing the score to 5-3.
- UTD expanded the lead to 16-10, fueled by Melia Mendoza-Flores and Burkhardt's offensive contributions.
- St. Edward's narrowed the gap with a 4-0 run, including two service aces from Delaney Gregory, tying the score at 20-20.
- Fording's kill tied the set at 24-24, but UTD secured the set victory 28-26 after capitalizing on a St. Edward's service error and a final bad set by Althea Morris.

Fourth Set Highlights
- SEU established momentum early with a 5-0 run, including a service ace by Bea Angeles.
- The Hilltoppers extended their advantage to 14-6.
- A series of errors by St. Edward's allowed UTD to cut the deficit to 22-13.
- CJaimes clinched the set and match with a final kill, sealing a 25-14 victory.

Stats Breakdown
The Comets hit .147 on 43 kills, two aces, five blocks and 59 digs.
The Hilltoppers hit .271 with 64 kills, eight aces, eight blocks and 69 digs.

UT Dallas Performances
Jane Burkhardt - 14 kills, 11 digs, 3 blocks for 7th double-double of the season 
Abby Gentner - 36 assists, 8 digs, 1 block  
Laura See  - 7 kills, 2 blocks, .313 hitting percentage
Lila Westphal - season-high 6 kills and 3 blocks
Mari Hernandez - 20 digs, moved into 10th place on UTD's career digs list with 1,141.
Melia Mendoza-Flores - 6 kills, hit .333
Averi Frazier - 9 digs

St. Edward's Performances
Addy Badley - 14 kills, 3 blocks
Kelli Fording  - 17 kills, 2 blocks
Althea Morris - 54 assists, 8 digs  
Mia Clay  - 15 kills, 3 blocks
Giselle Ojeda - 19 digs
 
Up Next
The Comets will kick-off homecoming weekend with Western New Mexico on Friday at 6 p.m.