Junior Briana Mason posted career highs with 19 kills and three service aces on Thursday night.SAN ANTONIO
— Middle hitter Briana Mason racked up a career-high 19 kills and led UTSA to a come-from-behind five-set win (27-25, 16-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-12) against Northwestern State on Thursday night at the Convocation Center.
The junior from Dallas was a force throughout the contest, as she hit .361 on her 36 attacks and added a personal-record three service aces in addition to matching her season best with seven block assists.
After winning the opening set by scoring seven of the final dozen points, the Roadrunners (9-13, 4-4 SLC) found themselves in a 2-1 hole entering the fourth frame, as the Lady Demons (1-16, 0-9 SLC) won back-to-back stanzas for just the third time this fall.
However, UTSA proved to be resilient and it sent the contest to a fifth-and-deciding set. The Birds then jumped out to an early four-point lead and never looked back in sending Northwestern State to its ninth loss in a row.
Outside hitter Kendra Rowland posted her team-leading 12th double-double of the year with a dozen kills and 10 digs. Libero Kelsey Jewasko led UTSA with 14 digs and three other Roadrunners — setter Amber Brooks (15), outside hitter Elise Huskey (11) and setter Vickie Mundell (10) — also were in double figures.
UTSA dominated the net defensively with a season-best 15 total blocks. Middle hitter Brittney Malloy followed up her stellar effort at Stephen F. Austin with six (1 solo/5 assists), while Rowland and outside hitter Whitney Walls chipped in with four assists apiece.
Yelena Enwere led Northwestern State with 14 kills and three aces and she also recorded 11 digs.
The Roadrunners continued their dominance in the all-time series, winning for the 28th time in 32 matchups with the Lady Demons.
UTSA will host the Southland Conference's top team on Saturday when Central Arkansas (20-3, 9-0 SLC) comes to the Alamo City for a noon matchup.