HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — McKenzie Adams set a career-high with 31 kills and Jessica Waldrip dished out a career-best 55 assists in UTSA’s four-set comeback victory Sunday at Marshall by scores of 27-29, 25-18, 25-14, and 27-25.
Adams, the Preseason Conference USA Player of the Year, produced her first career performance with at least 30 kills and 20 digs. Playing in her final regular season road match, the senior accounted for 21 digs while hitting .426 in addition to her 31 winners. Dajana Boskovic added 15 kills and Annie Kunes tied a match-high with 22 digs.
In a defensive first set that featured 15 ties and eight lead changes, Marshall (14-13, 7-4 C-USA) came away with three consecutive points to end it. A service ace by Dorothy Rahal was followed by an Ally Kiekover kill to give the Thundering Herd a 1-0 advantage.
UTSA (18-7, 10-1 C-USA) hit .308 in the second stanza highlighted by six kills each from Adams and Boskovic and six digs from Kunes to even the match at one set apiece.
The Roadrunners continued to build momentum in the third set building a 14-6 lead on back-to-back winners from Adams. Adams found the floor for 10 kills on 16 attempts without an error as the Birds hit .485 to claim the third set.
The fourth set appeared to be going Marshall’s way as the Thundering Herd took a 17-10 lead following two errors from UTSA. But UTSA continued to chip away at the deficit and evened the set at 23-all on an attack error from Marshall. After trading points and getting the serve back following a service error by Marshall, Adams served the final two points of the match, each capped by kills by Boskovic.
UTSA will return home for the final three matches of the season beginning Friday against UAB (18-10, 5-5 C-USA).