Offense leads UTSA to seventh consecutive victory on Thursday nightOffense leads UTSA to seventh consecutive victory on Thursday night
Volleyball

Offense leads UTSA to seventh consecutive victory on Thursday night

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SAN ANTONIO — Junior Whitney Walls hit .714 on the strength of a match-high 11 kills and UTSA swept Southeastern Louisiana (25-12, 25-19, 25-17) on Thursday night at the Convocation Center.

The league-leading Roadrunners (13-8, 7-0 SLC) swept their seventh consecutive opponent and continued their school-record start to the league slate.

Redshirt junior Kelsey Schwirtlich guided UTSA to a season-best .393 hitting percentage by handing out 33 assists.

Meanwhile, Walls was joined in double figures by freshman Dempsey Thornton, who had 10 winners, and junior Brittney Malloy hit a match-high .833 after connecting on five of her six swings.

Sophomore McKenzie Adams slammed home a half dozen kills and led the Roadrunners to a .552 hitting percentage in the opening frame. The Birds scored five of the match's first seven points behind three kills from Walls. UTSA then increased its advantage to 16-9 before using a 9-3 run to close out the set.

The Roadrunners hit .478, including a perfect 4-for-4 effort from Malloy, in the second panel, but they had to overcome a one-point deficit to take a 2-0 lead into the locker room.

UTSA raced out to an early 7-4 edge, but the Lady Lions (4-20, 0-7 SLC) reeled off an 8-3 run to take a one-point advantage. The two teams traded the next six points before the Birds won two straight to reclaim the lead. The Roadrunners then won 10 of the next 14 points and benefited from a half dozen Southeastern Louisiana service errors to pull away.

With the final set tied at 10, three Walls winners fueled a 6-1 run and UTSA cruised the rest of the way.

The Roadrunners return to action on Saturday when they host Nicholls (15-8, 2-5 SLC) at 2 p.m.