After nine games on the road, the Sul Ross State volleyball team finally returned home Friday night.
The Lobos faced the defending American Southwest Conference champs.
At times, Sul Ross State was able to show some grit, but when it was all said and done the Lobos fell in straight sets to the University of Texas at Dallas Comets at the Pete P. Gallego Center.
>> HOW IT HAPPENED:
UT-Dallas began the first set with a dominating 14-2 lead.
The Lobos had some kills by
Loren Garcia,
Edie Coleman and
Cassandra Espinoza, but the gap was too big to close.
To begin the second set, there were three early lead changes before Sul Ross State took a 6-5 lead after a kill by
Daniella Garcia.
The Comets then went on a 5-0 run to take a 9-6 lead.
Sul Ross State cut the deficit to one and then used a 3-0 run to flip the tables by taking an 11-10 lead.
After three more lead changes, the Lobos went ahead with two clutch kills by Espinoza and
Jayci Richters.
The scored see-sawed back and forth until Sul Ross State used a 3-0 run to lead 21-20. Coleman came away with another kill while
Eliana Mata served up an ace to highlight the run.
UT-Dallas then put away the set by going on a 5-1 run.
Sul Ross State was in a hole during the third set, trailing by eight points.
The Lobos put together a 5-0 run to trail by two points.
But the Comets prevailed by using another 5-1 run to finish off the set to come away with the sweep.
>> RECORDS: Sul Ross State (3-7); UT-Dallas (1-8)
>> GAME NOTES:
- Loren Garcia led the way with eight kills while Espinoza finished with seven kills and a team-high nine digs.
- Coleman finished with five kills.
- Mata had 14 assists and seven digs.
- Brylee Sweeten added with 11 assists.
>> UP NEXT: The Lobos continue their home stand by hosting LeTourneau University at 2 p.m. CST on Saturday, Sept. 23.
