  We present an improved search for binary compact-object mergers using a
network of ground-based gravitational-wave detectors. We model a volumetric,
isotropic source population and incorporate the resulting distribution over
signal amplitude, time delay, and coalescence phase into the ranking of
candidate events. We describe an improved modeling of the background
distribution, and demonstrate incorporating a prior model of the binary mass
distribution in the ranking of candidate events. We find a $\sim 10\%$ and
$\sim 20\%$ increase in detection volume for simulated binary neutron star and
neutron star--binary black hole systems, respectively, corresponding to a
reduction of the false alarm rates assigned to signals by between one and two
orders of magnitude.

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology;High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena;Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics