| Nov. 19, 2005
Contact: Kyle Stephens (210) 458-4907 UTSA advances to SLC Championship match with sweep of Sam Houston Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas – Senior Julia Hunter led four Roadrunners in double figures with 15 kills as the UTSA volleyball team advanced to the Southland Conference Tournament championship match with a 30-24, 30-28, 30-26 victory over Sam Houston State Saturday at Texas Hall.
The Roadrunners (18-10) will play the winner of the Stephen F. Austin/Texas State match on Sunday at 4 p.m. for the rights to the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Bearkats end their season at 17-13.
UTSA used a strong front line attack and overcame 13 service errors to defeat the Bearkats and advance to the conference championship match for just the second time in school history. The Roadrunners defeated Lamar, 15-10, 15-10, 11-15, 15-4, in the 2000 SLC Tournament.
Hunter’s 15 kills and .294 hitting percentage led a UTSA offense that out hit Sam Houston, .269-.202, for the match. Equally impressive was UTSA limiting the Bearkats, who averaged 2.18 blocks and 2.04 service aces per game entering the tournament, to just two blocks and zero aces all afternoon.
Joining Hunter in double digits was juniors Meagan Daniel and Connie Picard with 13 each and redshirt freshman Victoria Prior with 11. Daniel added 12 digs for her 17th double-double of the year, while Picard contributed a team-high four blocks, including one solo. Senior Toni Rocheleau had four aces and juniors Erin McMillan and DeeDee Strickland posted 17 digs and 51 assists, respectively.
Alisha Fowler led the Bearkats with 12 kills, while Rhae Walderman and Chrissy Engle had nine apiece.
Both teams battled through much of game one until UTSA used a 3-0 run late behind a Bearkat net violation, a Hunter kill and a service ace from senior Toni Rocheleau for a 28-23 advantage. After a Sam Houston point, UTSA ended it on a Prior winner and a Bearkat attack error.
UTSA overcame an early 10-6 Bearkat lead in game two, knotting the score at 11-all and eventually building a five-point advantage at 20-15. Sam Houston would cut into the lead late, tying things up at 27-all on an Engle winner. After the two teams traded points, UTSA took advantage of a Bearkat service error and an ace from Rocheleau for the 30-28 decision.
The Roadrunners broke led from the start in game three, building a 20-14 lead on a block from Daniel and Picard. Sam Houston mounted a late rally, cutting the deficit to three at 28-25 on a kill by Engle, but UTSA held on from there, getting a kill from junior Brittany Hildebrand and overcoming its on service error with one from the Bearkats on match point for the 30-26 win.
UTSA def. SAM HOUSTON STATE
30-24, 30-28, 30-26
UTSA – kills, Julia Hunter 15; assists, DeeDee Strickland 51; digs, Erin McMillan 17; blocks, Connie Picard 4, aces, Toni Rocheleau 4
SHSU – kills, Alisha Fowler 12; assists, Megan McNamara 36; digs, Jennifer Henrichsen 14, blocks, Lindsey Roebken, Chrissy Engle 2, aces, none
Records: UTSA 18-10; SHSU 17-13
Notes: UTSA advances to Sunday’s championship match
|
