? North Florida box score
? Southeast Missouri State box score
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. ? UTSA rebounded from Friday's loss to Weber State by winning a pair of matches during Saturday's final day of the 12th annual North Florida Labor Day Classic.
The Roadrunners, who improved to 3-4 with the two wins, began the day by sweeping North Florida by scores of 30-26, 30-24 and 30-26. UTSA followed that impressive triumph with a hard-fought four-game victory against Southeast Missouri State (30-27, 28-30, 30-22, 30-23).
In Saturday's nightcap, UTSA climbed out an early seven-point deficit to tie the first game at 19. The Roadrunners then grabbed the advantage late and held off a Southeast Missouri State rally. The Redhawks picked up the lead midway through the next frame and they fought off a furious UTSA rally in the latter stages of the game to knot the match at one as the squads headed to intermission.
The Roadrunners came out of the break firing on all cylinders and rolled to an easy victory in game three. However, UTSA found itself on the short end of the score for most of the fourth game, but the Roadruners scored nine of the final 11 points to clinch the match victory.
Several UTSA players had career highs in what was easily the most exciting match of the season.
Freshman outside hitter Kendra Rowland registered a match-high 22 kills (.500 pct.) and added 19 digs. Junior setter Rebecca Hrapmann shattered her previous career mark with 64 assists and junior libero Audrey Hiser collected a team-best 26 digs. Junior outside hitter Gena Rhodes put away 14 winners, while freshman middle hitter Valorie Rogers recorded nine total blocks (1 solo/8 assists).
Outside hitter Aubrey Dondlinger led SEMO with 14 kills and libero Molly Davis recorded a match-high 27 digs.
Earlier in the day against North Florida, UTSA scored 17 of 21 points midway through the first game and never looked back en route to the four-point win. The Roadrunners took advantage of five UNF service aces and Rowland put away six winners. UTSA hit .286 (19 kills/seven errors) the following frame and went into the locker room with a commanding 2-0 lead. The Roadrunners then used several small scoring runs in the final stanza and withstood a late Lady Ospreys charge to hold on for the four-point win.
On offense, senior outside hitter Cristina Almeida and junior middle hitter Victoria Prior paced the Roadrunners with 10 winners apiece, while Rogers added a career-best eight kills and hit a match-high .615. Hrapmann posted a double-double with 33 assists and a career-high-tying 16 digs.
Outside hitter Amy Stroder led North Florida with 10 kills and libero Maegan Weisert added a match-high 25 digs.
Following Saturday's action, Prior and Rowland were named to the All-Tournament Team. It marked the second weekend in a row that Rowland earned such honors.
The Roadrunners are back in action on Thursday when they host Houston at the Convocation Center. First serve is slated for 7 p.m.
