Roadrunners to welcome Rice, North Texas to Alamo City this weekend

SAN ANTONIO — UTSA will look to get back on the winning track with a pair of home matches this weekend. Friday's annual “Dig Pink” match against Rice is scheduled for 7 p.m. and North Texas comes to town for a 1 p.m. contest two days later.

UTSA (13-7, 5-1 C-USA) enters Friday’s contest hoping to rebound from its first Conference USA setback of the season last Sunday at Middle Tennessee. The loss snapped a five-match winning streak in which the Roadrunners held a 15-2 sets won advantage over their opponents. Preseason Conference USA Player of the Year McKenzie Adams continues to power a Roadrunners attack that ranks first in hitting percentage and opponent hitting percentage in league matches. Adams ranks second in the nation in kills per set (5.31) and third in points (5.74), while libero Annie Kunes ranks 33rd in digs (4.97).

Rice (6-14, 3-3 C-USA), the preseason conference favorite, found its stride last week after picking up wins against Marshall and Charlotte. Jillian Murphy’s 3.04 kills per set leads a quartet of Owls that average more than two kills per frame.

Sunday’s showdown with North Texas (12-10, 4-2 C-USA) pits the conference’s top two kill producers against one another, as the Mean Green’s Carnae Dillard trails only Adams. North Texas begins a three-match road trip on Friday at UAB before making the trip to San Antonio on Sunday.

Fans are encouraged to wear pink for Friday’s match with Rice in support of breast cancer awareness. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and fans are encouraged to participate in a silent auction highlighted by items such as an autographed team jersey, autographed team ball and an opportunity to have lunch with head coach Laura Neugebauer-Groff and three friends. “Dig Pink” T-shirts also will be available for $10.