By: Patrick Cunningham
TYLER, Texas - After logging nearly 3,000 round trip miles to start the season, the #23 ranked UT Tyler volleyball team will finally get to keep their suitcases unpacked for a few days as they start a three game home stand on Tuesday. The Patriots (11-1) have only played once on their home court this season, but will play their next three matches here in Tyler, starting with the Texas-Dallas Comets.
Both UT system schools, the Patriots and Comets have both also had solid starts to their respective seasons. UT Tyler is off to their best start in school history and are currently riding a six game win streak. They are nationally ranked, defeated #13 Illinois Wesleyan, and are undefeated against American Southwest Conference teams. In any other year, the Patriots would be sitting atop the ASC East Division standings (Due to UT Tyler's acceptance into Division II, matches against ASC teams this season do not count towards the official standings).
The Comets (9-5, 4-1 ASC) have face tough competition in their non-conference play. They played five ranked teams over an eight day period two weeks ago. Texas-Dallas picked up two wins, including a five set victory over #5 Trinity. The Comets sit atop the ASC East Division with their lone conference loss being in five sets to ASC West Division leader Mary-Hardin Baylor.
The Patriots and Comets both have some of the best offenses in the conference, ranking third and fourth in kills, respectively. The big battle may come down between UT Tyler's offense to the also exceptional Texas-Dallas defense. The Comets lead the ASC in kills with 111 on the year. This is mostly due to junior Lauren Schilling who has 66 this season, best in the conference. Matching up against her for the Patriots will be junior Kaitlyn Budisalovich. Budisalovich is third in the ASC in kills this season with 164. She has been on the receiving end of great passes from senior Reighanna Guzman who leads the conference in assists with 453 in 2018.
The match will be held in the Herrington Patriot Center and is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
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