UT Dallas is fighting for American Southwest Conference (ASC) titles in three different sports this weekend, with one of the tournament battles set to unfold on campus.
The Comets won the right to host the championship volleyball tournament after winning the league’s East Division for the sixth consecutive year. The Comets went on to claim the ASC volleyball title in 2008 and 2009.
Both soccer teams will also be aiming for titles, with the women’s team playing at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene and the men’s team taking to the field at UT Tyler.
Volleyball Team Hosts ASC Tournament
From left: Taylour Toso, Amy Gunter, Dana Hilzendager and Hillary Baugh
The senior-less Comets, led by eighth-year head coach Marci Sanders, clinched the ASC East crown with a 23-6 record this season.
During the season, the Comets put together a 13-match winning streak, the second longest in program history.
The Comets lost their first tournament game in the double-elimination tournament – against Hardin-Simmons University – on Thursday night.
They play Texas Lutheran on Friday at 2:30 p.m.
Junior Dana Hilzendager leads the Comets with 3.08 kills per set while adding 3.80 digs and 0.61 blocks per game over the regular season.
Tournament play started Thursday and continues through Saturday. All matches will be held at the UT Dallas Activity Center.
Women’s Soccer Team Hopes to Build on Standout Season
Katie Makanani
The UT Dallas women’s soccer team is having one its best seasons in school history, but the Comets won’t be satisfied unless they can end this weekend with an American Southwest Conference title.
The Comets enter the tournament with the stingiest defense in the ASC, giving up just five goals in 18 games this season. The Comets have recorded 14 shutouts this year, one shy of the school mark set in 2002.
Offensively, senior Leah Bowyer leads the team with 18 goals this season, and ranks second in points and fourth in assists.
UT Dallas finished the regular season with a 12-1 mark in ASC play, earning the team a first-round bye in the tournament. UT Dallas will open play at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Men’s Soccer Trying for Third Title Win
Michael Darrow
The UT Dallas men’s soccer team’s hunt for a third-ever American Southwest Conference title begins Friday afternoon as the Comets face LeTourneau in the opening round of the 2011 ASC Tournament.
UT Dallas has given up just seven goals this season and had 10 shutouts. The team ended the regular season in third place in the ASC standings.
Sophomore Michael Darrow leads UT Dallas with nine goals this season, ranking him fifth in the conference. Senior Brian Bienhoff and freshman Casey Cooper are tied for second on the team with four goals.
The Comets were ranked No. 4 in the latest NCAA Division III West Region rankings released Tuesday.