FORT WORTH — The UTSA volleyball team was swept twice during Friday's opening day of action at the TCU Nike/Molten Invitational. The Roadrunners, now 5-8 on the season, dropped matches to tournament host TCU and Ohio.
Sophomore Whitney Walls paced UTSA on offensive with a combined 18 kills, while redshirt freshman Kelsey Schwirtlich dished out 55 assists. Junior Kelsey Jewasko recorded 37 digs to pace the Birds on defense.
UTSA will conclude tournament play with an 11 a.m. match against UAB (3-8) on Saturday.
Ohio 3, UTSA 0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-22)
The UTSA volleyball team was swept (25-22, 25-20, 25-22) for the second time in as many matches on Friday at the TCU Nike/Molten Invitational, this time by Ohio.
UTSA (5-8) continued its struggles on offense after being limited to a .107 hitting percentage. Sophomore Whitney Walls paced the Roadrunners with 10 kills, while posting a team-best .412 hitting percentage.
Sue Jacobi led the Bobcats' (8-4) attack with a match-high 13 kills, while Michelle Jantsch paced dished out 35 assists. Meryl Bender notched 13 digs and Katie Post helped hinder the Roadrunners at the net with nine total blocks.
UTSA trailed 14-7 in the first frame, but senior Kendra Rowland's serving efforts pulled the Birds even after reeling off seven consecutive points. The two teams went back and forth for the next four points to remain even (16-16) until a 4-1 spurt by Ohio gave the Bobcats a 20-17 lead. UTSA again mounted a comeback attempt and took the lead following a 5-1 run (22-21). However, Ohio took advantage of consecutive attack errors by UTSA and a Jacobi kill clinched the first set.
The Roadrunners kept it close in the second frame, but Jacobi chalked up another winner to break a 19-all tie and Ohio proceeded to close out the stanza with a 5-1 run.
The Bobcats clinched the match by never trailing in the final set.
TCU 3, UTSA 0 (25-17, 28-26, 25-19)
The UTSA volleyball team was swept by TCU (25-17, 28-26, 25-19) on Friday afternoon in the second match of this weekend's TCU Nike/Molten Invitational.
The Roadrunners (5-7) made a strong push during the second set, but the Horned Frogs (7-4) prevailed and went on to record their six sweep of the season.
Redshirt sophomore Kelsey Schwirtlich recorded her fifth consecutive double-double after amassing 36 assists and 10 digs. Meanwhile, junior Kelsey Jewasko led all players with 21 digs.
TCU was led by Jordan Raines and Kristen Hester, who both notched 11 kills, and Meghan Horio paced the offense with 36 helpers.
The Horned Frogs jumped out to a 7-3 advantage in the opening set and they went on to push their lead to as many as eight. The Roadrunners received four kills apiece from senior Kendra Rowland and junior Elise Huskey in the frame, but it was not enough in the eight-point defeat.
UTSA relied upon strong hitting from sophomore Andee Josserand in the second stanza, as she notched five winners. The Birds held a 23-20 advantage late in the frame, but TCU scored five of the next six points take a 25-24 lead. UTSA staved off two more set points, but the Horned Frogs pulled away for the two-point triumph.
TCU then used an 11-7 spurt in the third frame to break open a 5-4 edge and the Roadrunners were unable to get closer than five the rest of the way.
UTSA continues tournament play this evening with a 5 p.m. match against Ohio (7-4), which swept UAB in the tournament opener.
