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SAN ANTONIO — Redshirt junior Kelsey Schwirtlich racked up a double-double of 34 assists and 12 digs and UTSA swept Nicholls (25-11, 25-13, 25-14) on Saturday at the Convocation Center.
The Roadrunners (14-8, 8-0 SLC) swept their eighth consecutive opponent for the first time since 1987 to remain atop the league standings.
Schwirtlich registered her third double-double of the season (first since Sept. 17) with a pair of match highs while leading the Birds to a .356 hitting percentage.
Junior Whitney Walls recorded a match-best 12 kills and hit at a .476 clip, while sophomore McKenzie Adams and freshman Dempsey Thornton joined Walls in double figures with 10 winners apiece.
UTSA's defense turned in its best effort of the year, limiting the Colonels (15-9, 2-6 SLC) to a negative .010 hitting percentage. Nicholls only could muster 20 kills and it committed 21 errors on its 96 swings.
The Roadrunners raced out to 7-0 lead in the opening frame, capped off by a service ace from Schwirtlich. UTSA pushed its advantage to 17-9 before junior Brittney Malloy accounted for the next three points, including a solo block. Freshman Becca Stark capped off a set-clinching 8-2 run with a service ace.
UTSA hit at a .364 clip in the second stanza and Thornton led the way with four kills. The Roadrunners took an early 7-3 lead behind two winners from both Malloy and Thornton. Nicholls cut the advantage to two at 10-8, but UTSA reeled off a 9-2 stretch, which was fueled by seven winners, to take a commanding 2-0 lead into intermission.
The Roadrunners hit .484 in the final frame to finish off the sweep. With the stanza tied at nine, Schwirtlich set up Thornton for a kill that put UTSA ahead for good. The Birds used a 15-5 run to close out the victory.
UTSA will return to action on Wednesday, Oct. 19, when it hosts Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (11-13, 3-5 SLC).