RICHARDSON, Texas - The UT Dallas volleyball team served up 16 aces, sweeping Western New Mexico 25-9, 25-19, 25-19 at the UTD Activity Center, Halloween evening.

The Comets' (6-17, 3-9 Lone Star Conference) 16 aces were tied for the fourth most in program history, while junior Sydney Sabin was one off the individual record with nine.

First Set Highlights
- UTD opened with a commanding 5-0 run, including two service aces from Sabin, setting the tone early.  
- The home side extended their lead to 8-1, capitalizing on the Mustang's (10-13, 5-8 LSC) errors and a pair of kills from Camryn Kerlick.  
- Midway through the set, the Comets maintained momentum with another surge, highlighted by two more aces from Sabin, reaching a 21-8 advantage.  
- A final service ace by Mari Hernandez sealed the set at 25-9.  

Second Set Highlights 
- UTD opened with a strong start, including consecutive service aces from Sabin, to take a 3-0 lead.  
- WNMU responded with a service ace from Jayla McDuffie and a block by Jayden Hughes and Brynlee Barris, leveling the score at 3-3.  
- UTD then gained momentum with a series of kills from Jane Burkhardt and Moriah Johnson, extending their lead to 16-13.  
- As the set progressed, Burkhardt recorded multiple kills, helping the Comets regain and extend the lead to 18-14.  
- UTD closed the set on a 9-6 stretch, capped by a Johnson kill, to secure a 25-19 win.

Third Set Highlights
- The Comets opened with a strong 3-0 run, featuring two service aces from Sabin.  
- The Mustangs cut the deficit to 3-2, but the home team quickly responded with a 5-0 run, including a kill by Sabin and two bad sets by WNMU.
- A mid-set push by UTD, highlighted by two service aces from Lila Westphal, widened the gap to 16-7.  
- Westphal and Johnson each contributed kills, extending the Comets' lead to 12-7.  
- The Mustangs rallied late with a 4-0 run, closing the deficit to 24-19, but UTD sealed the set at 25-19 on an attack error by Jade Rampton.

Stats Breakdown
The Comets hit .225 on 33 kills, with a season-best 16 aces, three blocks and 35 digs.
The Mustangs hit .128 with 24 kills, three aces, three blocks and 37 digs.

UT Dallas Performances
Sydney Sabin - 9 aces, second-most in school history and an arena record for a 3-set match. Also had 2 assists, 1 kill and 4 digs.
Abby Gentner - 23 assists, 10 digs and 1 ace. 13th double-double of the season.
Jane Burkhardt  - team-high 9 kills with 2 aces.
Moriah Johnson - 8 kills and hit .333.
Camryn Kerlick - 5 kills, 2 blocks.
Lila Westphal - 4 kills, hit .500, 2 blocks.
Laura See - 3 kills to become 24th player in UTD history to pass the 500-career kill mark (501).
Mari Hernandez - 9 digs.

Western New Mexico Performances
Daphne Posthumus - 8 kills, .500 hitting percentage
Savanna Haefs - 10 assists
Jayla McDuffie - 12 digs, 1 ace
Kaitlyn Salgado - 6 kills
Brynlee Barris - 3 blocks

Up Next
The Comets will face Sul Ross State at 2 p.m. Saturday as part of Homecoming weekend.