SAN ANTONIO ? UTSA returns from an eight-day break this weekend and continues a four-match home stand when it kicks off the Southland Conference schedule against UT Arlington (7 p.m. Friday) and I-35 rival Texas State (4 p.m. Saturday). Both matches will be streamed live on goUTSA.com (Rowdy Zone subscription required).
The Roadrunners, winners of five contests in a row, bring a 6-6 record into Friday's match. UTSA is coming off a 25-16, 22-25, 25-15, 25-14 victory against Texas-Pan American last Wednesday night at the Convocation Center. The Birds continue to be led by sophomore outside hitter Kendra Rowland and freshman libero Kelsey Jewasko, both of whom lead the league with 182 kills and 205 digs, respectively. Freshman setter Amber Brooks stands fourth in the SLC with 394 assists and sophomore middle hitter Valorie Rogers ranks eighth with a .279 hitting percentage.
UTSA's next victory will give Laura Neugebauer-Groff her 100th victory as the Roadrunners' head coach. The second-winningest coach in school history, Neugebauer-Groff owns a 355-167 all-time mark in 15 years of coaching.
UT Arlington has dropped eight of its last nine matches and brings a 4-10 overall ledger into the conference lid-lifter. Ally Wadeleads the Mavericks with 106 kills, Raegan Daniel with 411 assists, Alicia Shaffer with 132 digs and Emily Shearin with 50 total blocks. Friday night will mark the 35th all-time meeting between the two schools and UTA holds a commanding 25-9 edge in the series that dates back to the 1988 season.
Texas State, which plays at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Friday night, brings a 7-10 record into its SLC opener. The Bobcats have dropped seven of their last 10 matches and are led by Jessica Weynand's 149 winners, Brittany Collins' 353 helpers and 123 digs and Emily Jones Wilkes' 41 total blocks. The two teams have met 54 times and Texas State has a 44-10 lead in the all-time series that dates back to Oct. 24, 1983. Saturday will mark the first installment of the 2008-09 I-35 Maroon vs. Orange Rivalry Series.
