HOUSTON - UTSA posted season highs in hitting percentage (.323) and service aces (nine) en route to its fourth sweep of season on Friday afternoon at the Conference USA Southland Challenge. The Roadrunners defeated UTEP by scores of 30-28, 30-25 and 31-29 and improved to 7-6 on the season. The Miners saw their record drop to 2-9.
"This was a good win for us as we enter conference play next week," head coach Laura Neugebauer-Groff said after the sweep. "It also was good to see the team come back after last night's performance."
True freshman Brandi Wall had her finest match as a Roadrunner. Wall hit a match-best .611 with a career-high 11 kills and no errors (18 total attacks). Wall added a match-high four block assists.
"Brandi definitely had the hot hand and my hat goes off to DeeDee for going to her her over and over again," Neugebauer-Groff said. "I think today was a huge confidence boost for her."
Senior Meagan Daniel had a career-high six service aces along with 13 kills and 10 digs. Senior Brittany Hildebrand registered a .433 hitting percentage - a mark that was aided by a match-high 14 winners - and senior Connie Picard hit .462 (eight kills). Senior DeeDee Strickland quarterbacked the offense with 40 assists and senior Erin McMillan posted 17 digs.
The Roadrunners, who have the rest of the week off, return home for the first time in nearly a month when they open Southland Conference play against defending regular season champion Stephen F. Austin on Thursday, Sept. 21. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.