10.13.07
Comets Move Back Into Tie For First
With Sweep Through ASC Crossover
UTD's Three Wins Catch Comets Up With ETBU For East Division Lead
AUSTIN, TX - The UTD volleyball team used a trio of hard-earned wins over American Southwest Conference West Division foes and a loss by East Division leader East Texas Baptist to move into a tie for the East Division lead as the ASC played its second set of Crossover Tournaments this weekend.
Meeting for the second time this season, UTD handed Hardin-Simmons its first conference loss Friday night, 33-31, 30-22, 30-23; then held off host Concordia in five games Saturday morning before finishing the tournament with a tough, three-game sweep of McMurry.
The wins improved the Comets' record to a conference-best 18-4 overall, and 12-2 against ASC competition. East Texas Baptist, which had held a one-game lead on the Comets, lost a five-game match to Texas Lutheran University at a Crossover Tournament in Kerrville, falling into a tie with the Comets at 12-2. The two teams meet during the last weekend of the regular season.
UTD def. HARDIN-SIMMONS, 33-31, 30-22, 30-23
Meeting for the second time this season, UTD did what it needed to in the game that counted against the West-leading Cowgirls. After struggling the first game to finally win, 33-31, UTD handled HSU in the final two games of the match to sweep the three-game set. UTD hit only .137 as a team with 35 kills, but HSU committed 43 combined errors in the match. Kyleigh Irish and Stephanie Waller combined for 17 kills.
UTD def. CONCORDIA, 28-30, 30-16, 27-30, 30-19, 16-14
In a match that was tougher than expected, the host Tornados gave UTD all it could handle. Two of the Comets' top offensive threats - Irish and Amber Wetz - were rested, but Patty Allen (pictured above) and Stephanie Waller took up the slack, combining for 58 of UTD's 81 kills in the match. Allen hit a remarkable .400, scoring with 27 of her 55 attacks. Waller led the team with 31 kills while Kat Adams was stellar defensively with 44 digs.
UTD def. McMURRY, 30-26, 30-24, 30-25
The combination of Allen and Waller continued their torid pace in the second match Saturday with Allen again connecting at a .400 pace (17 kills on 30 attacks) while Waller added 11 more. Krissy Seaman contributed nine block assists, bringing her weekend total to 15.