SAN ANTONIO — UTSA's annual "Dig Pink" night was a resounding success, as the Roadrunners rolled to their seventh consecutive win with a 25-18, 27-25 and 25-21 sweep against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Thursday night at the Convocation Center.
Senior Kendra Rowland racked up 12 kills to pace the Roadrunners (14-9, 8-1 SLC), while sophomore Whitney Walls posted 10. Meanwhile, redshirt sophomore Kelsey Schwirlich handed out 33 assists.
Junior libero Kelsey Jewasko collected a match-high 14 digs and senior middle hitter Briana Mason posted five block assists to lead the Birds' defensive efforts.
Emma Ridley recorded a match-best 13 winners to lead the Islanders (11-12, 4-5 SLC), while Logen Bourque racked up 30 assists, but Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was limited to a .118 hitting percentage. Micah Nolan and Jessica Jennett each entered double digits in digs with 12 and 11, respectively.
The opening frame saw six ties and a pair of lead changes, but it was sophomore Brittney Malloy's winner with the score knotted at eight that put UTSA ahead for good. Sophomore Andee Josserand notched four winners, while Malloy and Walls each posted three to lead the attack. The Islanders recorded a -.029 hitting percentage after posting more errors (nine) than winners (eight) on their 35 swings.
The Roadrunners needed a comeback effort to take a two-set lead. The Birds staved off two set points before claiming the frame. Malloy slammed home a winner to give UTSA a 26-25 advantage and, on the ensuing play, Rowland buried a winner off a feed from Schwirtlich to pick up the win. The two teams exchanged the lead seven times and the Roadrunners relied upon four winners apiece from Malloy, Rowland and Walls to remain perfect on the night.
UTSA continued to roll, racing out to a 5-1 lead to open the third stanza. The Islanders pulled within one at 21-20, but a 4-1 run capped off by a Rowland winner polished off the whitewashing.
The West Division-leading Roadrunners return to action on Saturday in a 1 p.m. tilt at Lamar (9-11, 5-4 SLC).
