SCAC Tournament: @UDallasVball 3, Texas Lutheran 2 | Trinity 3, #UDCrusaders 0

SHERMAN, Texas – The University of Dallas volleyball team (23-11) edged Texas Lutheran University (19-13) in the first round of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference on Friday. UD posted thrilling 26-24 and 25-20 sets to gain a 2-0 edge, before needing a fifth frame to secure a spot versus top seeded Trinity University later.

It was the second time in a couple weeks Dallas needed a fifth set to top TLU, after winning in Seguin, Texas at the SCAC Cross-Divisional No. 4. That match-up involved each squad exchanging wins in the first four sets.

Unfortunately the Lady Crusaders would not have enough to get by No.21-nationally ranked Trinity, falling in straight sets: 25-10, 25-21, and 25-18.

Dallas defeats Texas Lutheran, 3-2:

Dallas and the Bulldogs exchanged points in the early going of the opening game with neither team holding consistent momentum.

Ahead 17-16, the Lady Crusaders appeared to take the first edge with five-straight points to move out to an eventual 24-19 advantage. TLU would not go quietly, rattling off a 5-0 run to knot things at 24-24.

Consecutive points by the navy and white lifted them to a 1-0 result on the match at that juncture.

In the second set, Dallas again found itself in a familiar position pushing a narrow advantage at 18-16, but this time locked down the black and gold; closing the round out 7-3 and moving one victory away from advancing.

Texas Lutheran rallied back in the third and fourth sets, notching 25-19 and 25-18 results to force a final round in the Match A of the SCAC quarterfinals. The Lady Crusaders handled business and pushed a six-point stretch from a 4-4 tie to secure a 15-8 final.

Five players reached double figures in kills led by sophomore outside hitter Mairin Guilfoyle (Roanoke, Va.) with 15. Also notching the feat with 11 apiece were junior right-side hitter Cat Dowgwillo (St. Louis, Mo.) and senior outside hitter Christine Jablonsky (Colorado Springs, Colo.). Adding 10 each were junior middle blocker Jaime Birzer (Ottawa, Kan.) and senior middle blocker Emily Caples (Walnut Creek, Calif.).

Both squads amassed over 100 digs, with TLU outdoing the navy and white 112-107. Sophomore Libero Jessie Koster (Sherwood, Ore.) tallied a game-high 30, while Dowgwillo and senior setter C.J. Broadbent (Goodyear, Ariz.) contributed 19 each.

Broadbent also was one shy of a season-high in assists, collecting 48 in the intense contest.

Postgame interview with first-year head coach, Emily Holombek here. Postgame interview with Broadbent here.

Trinity University tops Dallas, 3-0:  

It was a difficult afternoon in the second match of the day for Dallas, as the Tigers from Trinity University managed to sweep and move to the Championship Title contest on Saturday. The Lady Crusaders fell to 0-3 on the campaign versus the nationally ranked opponent, but did challenge TU in the final two sets of the afternoon affair.

After falling 25-10 in the opener, the navy and white competed in the second, rallying from behind with five unanswered points to nip at an 18-12 deficit. It would not be enough as the Tigers closed the set on a 6-2 span.

Another early margin would put UD in a bind, with nine-straight points credited to Trinity. The Lady Crusaders pushed a valiant effort posting five scoring sequences in a row on game point. The fourth-seeded team would be done on a kill from TU's Kristina Hughes.

Birzer notched a team-high nine kills, to give her 19 on the day. Guilfoyle compiled 21 total kills between the two contests, with six against Trinity. Jablonsky added five in the setback.

Broadbent tallied 26 assists and Koster managed a game-high 27 digs.

Next Opponent:

Dallas will play in the match to determine third and fourth place on Saturday versus Colorado College. First tip is set at 2:00 p.m.