The University of Texas at Dallas volleyball team celebrates its American Southwest Conference championship Saturday at the Activity Center. Members of the team include (front row, from left) Aidan Ballard, Ashley Munoz, Rachel Baxter, Emma Sevening, Abby Jones, Karle Lynd, Catherine Croft, Hannah Paine and Izzy Sundquist; and (back row) Mikayla Cho, Maria Serb, Jaryn Towery, Alli Paveglio, Lydia Knollmeyer, Lauren Johnson, Madison Ball, Gabi Engels and Erin Rogers. (Photo courtesy of Alonzo Quintero)

The University of Texas at Dallas volleyball team won its second consecutive American Southwest Conference (ASC) championship and eighth overall after sweeping East Texas Baptist University 3-0 in the league tournament finals Nov. 5 at the UTD Activity Center.

With the victory, UT Dallas (20-5) earned a berth in the NCAA Division III National Tournament for the sixth time in the past eight seasons and the ninth time in program history. The Comets will play the University of California, Santa Cruz (19-5) on Nov. 10 at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in Claremont, California.

More Volleyball Coverage

ASC Championship Video

Post-Match Interviews

NCAA Tournament

Bracket

Livestream: Comets’ opening match 9:30 p.m. (CST) Thursday, Nov. 10

UT Dallas’ Catherine Croft, who finished with 12 kills and six blocks in the title match, won ASC Tournament MVP honors for the second straight year. Comet teammates Emma Sevening and Lauren Johnson joined Croft on the all-tournament team.

UTD led the entire first set on its way to a 25-17 win against the Tigers (20-7), who were playing in their first ASC finals since 2013. The second set featured nine ties and three lead changes. The Comets led 21-20 before winning the set with a 4-2 run. Trailing 17-16 in the third set, the Comets ended the match with a 9-2 rally.

First-year head coach Zach Villarreal and assistant coach Kaylie McHugh earned ASC Coaching Staff of the Year honors. Other members of the team include Madison Ball, Aidan Ballard, Rachel Baxter, Mikayla Cho, Gabi Engels, Abby Jones, Lydia Knollmeyer, Karle Lynd, Ashley Munoz, Hannah Paine, Alli Paveglio, Erin Rogers, Maria Serb, Izzy Sundquist and Jaryn Towery.

Villarreal took the reins of the volleyball program after Marci Allison was promoted to associate athletic director for compliance after 18 years as head volleyball coach.

Graeme Maclean

UT Dallas also won the ASC title in 2008, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2021.

Cross Country

Despite muddy conditions, University of Texas at Dallas men’s cross country runner Graeme Maclean became the first Comet to win the individual title at the American Southwest Conference (ASC) Championship on Oct. 29.

Maclean set school and ASC records with a time of 25:34.6 in the 8,000-meter race on the campus of East Texas Baptist University. He and eight other Comets will compete Nov. 12 at the NCAA Division III West Regional Championships in Spokane, Washington. Devan Bailey, Christopher Castro, Jayden Chambless, Griffin Davis, Trent Sakakini and Javion Zavala will run in the men’s event, while Rebeca Betanzo and Sage Herrera will participate in the women’s race.