| Junior Stefanie Robbins had a career-high 20 kills on Saturday. |
CONWAY, Ark. ? Junior middle hitter Stefanie Robbins slammed home a career-high 20 kills and UTSA rallied from a 2-1 deficit to post a 27-25, 21-25, 22-25, 25-21, 16-14 victory at Central Arkansas on Saturday afternoon. The Roadrunners, who won for the 14th time in their last 16 matches, improved to 15-8 overall and 7-2 in Southland Conference play.
Robbins committed just three errors in her 40 attacks, which was good for .425 hitting percentage, and senior outside hitter Gena Rhodes added a season-high 13 winners and hit a career-best .667 (one error in 18 swings).
In an exciting match that featured a total of 42 ties and 15 lead changes, UTSA got the upper hand in the first frame when it came back from a 24-21 deficit. The Roadrunners staved off four set points and closed out the stanza on a 6-1 run to take the early lead.
Central Arkansas tied the match with a hard-fought victory in the following set, despite UTSA fighting off two more set points. The Sugar Bears then took what appeared to be a commanding 2-1 edge when they closed out the third frame with a 6-2 run.
The Roadrunners answered the bell one set later when they scored 10 of the final 16 points to send the contest into a fifth-and-deciding frame.
UTSA built a 4-1 advantage to open the final stanza, but UCA chipped away at the early edge and took its first lead at 12-11. The Birds battled back and held match point at 14-13, but the Sugar Bears tied the match before the Roadrunners scored the final two tallies to post the comeback triumph.
UTSA added 71 digs to its league-leading total and were led by freshman Kelsey Jewasko's 26, which was her sixth match of the season with at least 20.
Amicha Williams led four UCA players in double figures with a career-high 19 kills and Robyn Smith handed out a match-best 63 assists.
The Roadrunners begin a five-match home stand on Thursday, Oct. 30, when they host Sam Houston State in a 7 p.m. contest at the Convocation Center.