FORT WORTH — Facing a 2-0 deficit, the UTSA volleyball team came all the way back to top UAB in five sets (20-25, 21-25, 25-15, 25-20, 15-6) on Saturday at the TCU Nike/Molten Invitational.
UTSA (6-8) went the distance for the seventh time this season and picked up its fourth win those contests.
Junior Kelsey Jewasko led UTSA with 32 digs, her third 30-plus performance of the fall, and the San Antonio native was named to the All-Tournament team.
Senior Briana Mason started hot for the Birds, scoring eight winners in as many attempts. The Dallas native finished the victory with a match-high 16 kills. Meanwhile, sophomores Whitney Walls and Andee Josserand notched 14 and 13 winners, respectively.
Senior Kendra Rowland and redshirt freshman Kelsey Schwirtlich each tallied double-doubles. Rowland's fifth double-double of the campaign produced 14 digs and 10 kills. Schwirtlich's team-leading ninth resulted in 53 assists and 10 digs.
After UAB (3-9) claimed the first two sets, UTSA soared back into the tilt after a strong third-set performance.
Trailing 10-8 in the frame, the Roadrunners went on a 5-2 run to take a one-point lead. A Walls kill later on helped the Birds pull away and UTSA closed out the stanza with a 4-2 run for its first set win of the weekend.
The Roadrunners then grabbed a 3-2 lead in the ensuing frame and never looked back. The Runners increased their lead to as much as seven before rolling to the five-point triumph.
UTSA continued to roll in the fifth-and-deciding set, opening up a 4-1 lead following a Schwirtlich winner. The Roadrunners pushed their lead to seven (12-5) before clinching the win.
The Birds will open Southland Conference play on Thursday, Sept. 23, at home against UT Arlington. First serve is slated for 6:30 p.m.
