Westminster opened the match on the road with a competitive first set before Texas-Dallas pulled away for a 3-0 sweep Saturday at the UTD Activity Center. The match featured 11 lead changes and 22 tie scores, with the opening two sets both decided by five points.
Game Breakdown
Set 1
Westminster hung with the Comets from the opening whistle, trading the lead seven times and tying the set 13 times before Texas-Dallas closed it out 25-22. Apiline White paced the Griffin offense with 5 kills, while Claire Cook added 2 kills and turned in a perfect 9-for-9 reception effort. Tiia Heikkinen ran the offense with 6 assists and 2 service aces, and Ava Livolsi kept the defense steady with 7 digs.
Set 2
The Griffins stayed within reach in the second set, getting a boost from Alie Coleman, who hit .400 with 2 kills, and Kyra Mahler, who was perfect at the net with 2 kills on 2 swings. Cook again led the attack with 3 kills, and Heikkinen dished out 4 assists as Westminster looked to even the match, but Texas-Dallas took the set 25-20.
Set 3
Texas-Dallas pulled away in the third to close out the sweep, 25-13. Elsa Gilmore and Claire Cook each added 2 kills for the Griffins, and Ava Livolsi and Tiia Heikkinen combined for 9 digs in the frame to keep pressure on the Comet attack down the stretch.
Griffin Performances
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Claire Cook: match-high 7 kills, 9 digs, 18 reception attempts at a .900 clip, team-high 8.5 points
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Apiline White: 6 kills, 6 perfect receptions
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Elsa Gilmore: 4 kills, 5.0 points
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Alie Coleman: 3 kills on .333 hitting, 5.5 points
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Kyra Mahler: 3 kills on .250 hitting, 3.0 points
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Tiia Heikkinen: 12 assists, 2 service aces, 8 digs
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Ava Livolsi: team-high 13 digs, 6 assists
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Nora Elliot: 2 assists, 1 service ace, 3 digs
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Isabella Deantoni: 17 receptions at a perfect 1.000 clip
As a team, Westminster finished with 23 kills, 21 assists, 5 service aces, 39 digs and 4.0 total blocks across the three sets.
Up Next
The Griffins will be at home this next weekend for their home opener against New Mexico Highlands University.
