Junior Kendra Rowland's sixth consecutive double-double wasn't enough on Saturday.SAN ANTONIO
— UTSA had the Southland Conference's top team on the ropes on Saturday, but Central Arkansas was up to the challenge and the Sugar Bears rallied for a 14-25, 25-20, 16-25, 25-21, 15-11 victory at the Convocation Center.
UCA ran their perfect mark in league play to 10-0, while improving to 21-3 overall with its 20th win in the last 21 outings. Meanwhile, the Roadrunners saw their season ledger drop to 9-14 overall and 4-5 in Southland play.
UTSA cruised to an early lead on the strength of a near-perfect performance in the opening set. The Birds recorded 14 kills and committed no errors in their 27 attacks in rolling to the 11-point triumph. The Sugar Bears scored five of the final half dozen points in the following frame and the match was tied at intermission.
The Roadrunners came out of the locker room strong and, after Central Arkansas tied the third set at 11, UTSA closed out the stanza with a 14-5 run and looked poised to hand the Sugar Bears their first conference loss of the year.
However, it wasn't meant to be, as UCA wired the Birds in the fourth frame and then used an 11-3 run early in the final set to essentially put the match on ice.
Outside hitter Kendra Rowland recorded her sixth consecutive double-double (team-leading 13th of year) with a match-high 16 kills and 16 digs. Middle hitter Briana Mason added a dozen winners to go along with a pair of service aces and four block assists. while middle hitter Stefanie Robbins added 10 kills.
Defensively, libero Kelsey Jewasko and setter Vickie Mundell collected 15 and 14 digs, respectively, while middle hitter Brittney Malloy paced UTSA with seven block assists.
Chloe Smith led the Sugar Bears with 16 winners, while Cristin Curl led the defensive effort with a match-leading 17 digs.
The Roadrunners return to action on Thursday, Oct. 29, when they travel to Huntsville to take on Sam Houston State. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. at Johnson Coliseum. The Bearkats defeated UTSA in five sets two weeks ago.