? Box score
SAN MARCOS ? Texas State and UTSA met for the 53rd time on Thursday night and the Bobcats grabbed control early to collect a four-game victory (30-18, 30-25, 25-30, 30-20) at Strahan Coliseum. The match was the Southland Conference opener for both schools.
The Roadrunners, playing the first of five road tilts to open the league slate, dropped to 7-10 on the season. The Bobcats won their fourth match in a row to improve to 7-5.
Texas State scored the first six points of the match and hit .375 en route to an easy 12-point game one victory. The Bobcats then scored the first 10 tallies of the second stanza and looked to be in complete control. However, the Roadrunners rallied to tie the game at 21, but Texas State scored nine of the final 13 points to take a commanding 2-0 lead into intermission.
UTSA came out the locker room and held the Bobcats a .073 hitting percentage in the third game. It was a nip-and-tuck affair throughout, but the Roadrunners grabbed the advantage late by going on a 7-1 run after falling behind 24-23. However, Texas State responded by hitting .333 in the fourth and deciding frame and cruised to the 10-point, match-clinching victory.
Freshman outside hitter Kendra Rowland had a match-best 15 winners for the Roadrunners, while junior middle hitter Victoria Prior added 13 kills and a career-high four service aces. On defense, junior libero Audrey Hiser had a match-best 22 digs, which was her seventh contest in a row in double figures and fifth of 20 or more this season.
Outside hitter Jessica Weynand led Texas State with a dozen kills and setter Shelbi Irvin added a quartet service aces. Sophomore libero Kacey Wimpy led four Bobcats in double figures with 15 digs.
UTSA is back in action on Saturday when they play at Texas-Arlington (8-6, 1-0). First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Texas Hall.
