CORPUS CHRISTI — UTSA improved to 17-0 all-time against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with a four-set road victory (25-23, 20-25, 25-17, 25-23) on Monday night.
McKenzie Adams led the way with a match-high 20 kills for UTSA (4-4) and Dajana Boskovic added 14. Freshman setter Jessica Waldrip matched her career-high with 39 assists for the third consecutive match and Annie Kunes led four Roadrunners with double-digit digs with 26.
The Birds (4-4) started fast in set one by racing out to a 10-3 lead with two kills each from Adams and Boskovic. After the Islanders closed to within 13-9, Boskovic tallied three consecutive winners to start a 6-3 run to regain control. Down 20-13, the Islanders scored nine of the next 11 points to tie the frame at 22. UTSA responded by scoring three of the next four points to win the set on a kill by Boskovic. Adams and Boskovic tied for the team-lead with six kills each, while Waldrip paced the offense with 15 assists.
The Roadrunners once again started fast with a 7-3 run to begin the second stanza, but Texas A&M-Corpus Christi answered with an 8-3 stretch to take the lead, 11-10. The two teams went back-and-forth from there until the Islanders used a 7-2 run to end the set and even the match at one set apiece.
UTSA answered back in the third with a dominant defensive performance, holding the home team to a .071 hitting percentage. A&M-Corpus Christi managed to score consecutive points on only two occasions. Adams added a set-high six kills and Kasey Kiefer pitched in another three to lead the offensive attack.
The Islanders continued the see-saw effect of the match by jumping out to a 7-2 lead in the fourth on a kill by Loren Borque and looked to be in control. With UTSA facing a 22-18 deficit, Boskovic started a 7-1 match-ending run with a kill and that was followed by four straight attack errors from the Islanders.
UTSA now will travel to Arlington to take part in the Hilton Mavericks Classic beginning Friday with a 7 p.m. match with UT Arlington (4-3). The Roadrunners will meet Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in a rematch at 11 a.m. the following morning before closing out tournament play at 4:30 p.m. against Mississippi Valley State (2-7).