TEMPE, Ariz. - The Mavericks to fought in two tough battles in the Sun Devil Classic on Saturday, but came up on the wrong side of the win column in matches against New Mexico State and Pacific to close their stay in the season-opening tournament.

Falling to NM State by a final of 3-0 and Pacific 3-2, UTA will head home with an 0-3 record ahead of its home opener on Friday against Air Force with a 6:30 p.m. first serve at College Park Center. 

Despite being unable to dig up a win in the tournament, the Mavs picked up positives across the court to bring home into next week. Preseason All-Conference selection Zhanelle Geathers led the Mavs with 32 kills, averaging 2.67 kills per set and finished with a .191 attack percentage. Geathers pounded 13 kills against NM State in the day's opener, and had 11 against Pacific to finish all three matches in double figures. 

Alex Janak had a monster day in the setter role. She picked up a pair of double-doubles on Saturday, providing 12 assists and 11 digs vs. the Aggies, and added 26 assists to go with 15 digs against the Tigers. 

VERSUS NEW MEXICO STATE
The Mavs couldn't get things clicking early against the WAC Preseason Coaches' favorite. New Mexico State opened the match by taking four of the first six points and breezed to a 25-18 finish. The second would go a similar way with a 25-14 score before UTA made a set of the third. 

Despite going down early, UTA picked up momentum down 19-11 late in the set. UTA raced back by scoring six in a row to close the gap to just two and forcing an Aggie timeout after Kylie Jedlicka picked up a kill. However, out of the timeout, the Aggies were able to hang on and stole the finale with the final two points of the set to win 25-23. 

VERSUS PACIFIC
UTA had its best offensive performance of the weekend in hitting .130 on offense, however, couldn't close out the match after taking two of the first three sets. 

The opening game set the tone for the remainder of the match, showing that it was going to be a close battle down to the wire. UTA trailed 24-21 before rattling off four in a row, but gave up back-to-back points. The Mavs made it 26 apiece as the Tigers couldn't put down the set-clinching kill. Pacific came right back to score two consecutive to take a 28-26 opening set. 

A season-best eight-point run by the Mavs midway through the second set tied the match at 1-1 overall, UTA closing out a 25-19 second. The Mavs fought off a brief attempt at a late run in the third, Madison Hill knocking down the winner for a 25-22 third. 

Pacific came back in the fourth, putting together a run of three consecutive to pull away to a 25-21 win and force the match to the final fifth. 

The Tigers had command of much of the last set, but the teams saw themselves tied at 11 with Geathers reaching double figures in kills to tie the match at 11-11. Three of the next four went for Pacific before UTA denied two match points to make it 14 apiece, but a Tiger kill and attacking error closed the final set at 16-14 and closed out the match. 

HOME OPENER ON AUG. 31
The Mavericks come home to College Park Center on Friday, Aug. 31 when they host Air Force at 6:30 p.m. The match marks the first of three at CPC next weekend, taking on Loyola Maryland (1:30 p.m.) and Binghamton (6:30 p.m.) on Sept. 1. 

Season Tickets On Sale Now
Volleyball tickets for the 2018 UTA season are officially on sale through UTATickets.com and at the UTA College Park Center Box Office! 
 
The Mavs will host 13 total home matches at the gorgeous College Park Center, including a pair of tournaments to open the home slate. UTA will welcome Air Force, Loyola Maryland, Binghamton, Grand Canyon, Belmont and Sam Houston State for tournaments before hosting seven Sun Belt Conference games. All student tickets are free for all athletic home events. Students are asked to scan their UTA Student ID. 
 
Season tickets are available for $50, while single-game tickets can be purchased for $6 and group tickets (10 or more) at $3. Season tickets will go on sale Monday, July 23 at 10 am at UTAtickets.com while single game tickets are expected to go on sale in early August. Fans can also get the Mav Mania All-Sports Pass, which is $99 and includes access to all home athletic sporting events! For more information visit UTAtickets.com or call the College Park Center Box Office from 9-5 on Monday-Friday at 817.272.9595.