DENVER, Colo. — UTSA split its first two matches at this weekend's Pioneers Classic on Friday. The Roadrunners (4-5) opened their day with a four-set triumph against tournament host Denver (25-22, 14-25, 25-20, 27-25) before falling in five frames to Missouri (25-22, 25-22, 21-25, 23-25, 16-14).
UTSA rally falls just short against Missouri
DENVER, Colo. — UTSA nearly overcame a two-set deficit to Missouri on Friday night, but the Tigers were able to hold on for a 25-22, 25-22, 21-25, 23-25, 16-14 victory at the Pioneers Classic.
The Roadrunners (4-5) held a 6-2 lead in the final frame, but Missouri (10-1) was able to tie things up at 11 on the strength of a 9-5 run. The two teams traded the next six points before the Tigers won the final two on kills to clinch their sixth consecutive win.
A trio of Birds recorded double-digits kills, led by junior Whitney Walls' 16. Freshman Dempsey Thornton added 14 winners, while senior Elise Huskey continued her strong start to the year with 13 of her own. Huskey also registered 22 digs for her sixth double-double of the season.
Redshirt junior Kelsey Schwirtlich dished out 49 assists and senior Kelsey Jewasko posted a match-best 24 digs. Sophomore transfer McKenzie Adams led all players with 10 total blocks (7 assists/3 solots) in her first start as a Roadrunner.
Lisa Henning led the Tigers with 15 kills, while Emily Wilson chalked up 14. Molly Kreklow guided the Mizzou offense with 33 assists and Priscilla Armendariz collected 19 digs.
The Tigers held off a late charge by the Birds in the opening stanza. Missouri led 20-15, but UTSA pulled even at 22 after a 7-2 run. However, Missouri picked up the next three points, including the final two on attack errors by the Roadrunners.
MU's momentum continued in the second stanza after it raced out to a 13-7 lead. A 6-0 UTSA stretch evened the panel at 13, but the Tigers regained the edge after reeling off an 8-2 run and never looked back in taking what appeared to be a commanding 2-0 advantage into the locker room.
With the third set tied at 13, momentum once again changed hands, as the Roadrunners pulled out to a 22-17 lead. The Birds staved off another push from Missouri to extend the match.
UTSA fully capitalized on its third-set win by racing out to a 6-0 advantage in the fourth stanza. After the Tigers briefly took a 14-13 lead, the Roadrunners regained control and held on for a two-point victory to force a fifth-and-deciding set.
The Roadrunners will conclude tournament play on Saturday when they play UC Davis (7-1) at noon (CT) before squaring off with Drake (2-6) at 6 p.m.
UTSA opens Pioneer Classic with 3-1 win over Denver
DENVER, Colo. — UTSA was led by three players with double-digit kills and the Roadrunners opened the Pioneers Classic with a 3-1 victory (25-22, 14-25, 25-20, 27-25) against tournament host Denver on Friday.
Senior Elise Huskey paced the Roadrunners (4-4) with a double-double of 15 kills and 11 digs. Freshman Dempsey Thornton and junior Whitney Walls chipped in on the attack with 13 and a dozen winners, respectively, while redshirt junior Kelsey Schwirtlich handed out 47 assists. Senior Kelsey Jewasko led the Roadrunners back row with a match-high 27 digs.
UTSA pulled away in the opening frame on the strength of a 7-2 run. However, the Pioneers (2-5) battled back to tie the match at 20, but a 5-2 spurt by the Roadrunners was capped off by a set-clinching service ace from freshman Leigh Larralde. Walls boasted a team-high five winners that helped lead to a .281 hitting percentage.
A 5-0 start by the Pioneers set the tone for the second panel. UTSA cut the lead to three at 11-8, but Denver continued to roll and cruised to the 11-point win.
The Roadrunners turned the momentum back in their favor during the third set after jumping out to an 8-3 lead. UTSA matched its future Western Athletic Conference counterpart the rest of the way to take a 2-1 lead.
UTSA then overcame an early four-point deficit to clinch the victory in the fourth frame. The Roadrunners were forced to fight off three set points and were able to do so with the help of three Denver attack errors.
The Pioneers received 35 assists from Julia Cawthra and Kate Acker recorded 19 digs.
UTSA will continue tournament play against Missouri (9-1) at 6 p.m. (CT).
