CORPUS CHRISTI — UTSA held its fourth straight opponent under a .100 hitting percentage and the Roadrunners swept Texas A&M-Corpus Christi by scores of 25-13, 25-19 and 25-20 on Tuesday night.
The victory marks the first time since 2003 that UTSA (11-8, 5-0 SLC) has swept five consecutive opponents.
The Roadrunners limited the Islanders (9-11, 1-4 SLC) to a .045 hitting percentage and forced 25 attack errors while posting 11 total blocks.
Senior Kelsey Jewasko collected a match-best 15 digs to help quell the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi attack, while fellow senior Elise Huskey registered 10 kills. Redshirt junior Kelsey Schwirtlich guided the squad to a .243 hitting percentage by handing out a match-high 34 assists.
The Birds took advantage of 12 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi attack errors to claim the opening frame. With the score tied at eight, UTSA won five consecutive points, including a pair on service aces by freshman Dempsey Thornton, to take the lead for good. UTSA went on a 5-0 spurt to extend the advantage to 19-10. The Roadrunners then pushed the lead to double digits (23-13) after Schwirtlich set up junior Brittney Malloy for a winner. The Islanders then committed back-to-back attack miscues to close out the 12-point triumph.
UTSA used a .351 hitting percentage to overcome a late two-point deficit and take a commanding 2-0 lead. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi held a 16-14 advantage, but the Roadrunners used a 5-3 run to pull even. The Birds then took a 20-19 lead after Malloy and junior Whitney Walls combined on a block. UTSA then turned to its offensive weapons, as Huskey, Malloy, Walls and sophomore McKenzie Adams all registered winners to push the advantage to 24-19. The Roadrunners went back to Walls to finish off the stanza and she delivered with her sixth kill of the night.
The Birds gained early control of the final frame by racing out to an 8-3 lead. UTSA increased its edge to 17-9 following a Huskey winner. The Islanders cut the lead to five (18-13) after back-to-back attack errors by the Roadrunners, but UTSA kept enough distance to pull away for the five-point victory.
Logen Bourque led A&M-Corpus Christi with a double-double of 23 assists and 12 digs. Meanwhile, Brooke Alverson notched 10 kills and Micah Nolan collected 14 saves.
UTSA returns to the court on Saturday at McNeese State (6-12, 1-3 SLC). First serve is slated for 2 p.m. at Memorial Gym.
