MILWAUKEE, Wis. — UTSA dropped a pair of matches to James Madison and Marquette on Saturday in the final day of action at the Marquette Invitational.
The Roadrunners (2-6) were swept by the Dukes (19-25, 23-25, 17-25) before falling in four sets (12-25, 22-25, 25-18, 24-26) to the Golden Eagles in the tournament finale and they now have dropped their last five outings.
Marijeta Runjic (11) and Dajana Boskovic (10) were the only players to tally double figure against James Madison.
UTSA scored the first point out of the gate, but 10 consecutive points by the Dukes put the Roadrunners in a deficit they could not overcome. UTSA managed to hold off James Madison after it had set point by scoring seven straight before a kill by Sarah Patterson secured the win for the Dukes.
The Roadrunners kept it close in the second set. UTSA held a lead through most of the frame, but JMU refused to let the Roadrunners to come out on top. Eight ties and six lead changes later, the Birds found themselves even at the 21-all mark. Three straight points by James Madison gave it set point and Martha Stewart's winner put the Roadrunners in a 2-0 hole heading into intermission.
Kylie Schott, who hit a team-best .556 for the match, registered three kills in the set to go along with two of her three blocks on the day.
Despite 10 ties in the third and final set, UTSA was unable to keep pace with the Dukes. The final tie came at 11-all, but five consecutive points by the Dukes gave them a 16-11 advantage that led to the sweep. Runjic recorded six of her kills in the decisive set.
Sophomore Jessica Waldrip was one dig shy of a double-double with 24 assists and nine digs and she also matched a season high of three kills.
UTSA looked to bounce back in the nightcap against tournament host Marquette, but it was unable to snap its losing streak.
The Roadrunners looked strong enough to take the match a fifth stanza, but they lost momentum in the final plays of the night.
After the Golden Eagles made quick work of the Roadrunners in the first set, UTSA was held to a negative attack percentage while Marquette hit .333.
However, UTSA was able to turn the tables for a third-set triumph. Boskovic racked up eight kills for a .462 hitting percentage and the 6-foot-1 outside ended the night with a career-best 22 winners to go along 16 digs. The Roadrunners also hit .548 in the frame, which was the highest for a single set this season.
UTSA led late in the fourth set, but multiple runs by the Golden Eagles quelled the threat.
Marquette scored four consecutive points to even the score and that was followed by three more ties.
Morgan Broussard totaled a season-best 40 assists while four Roadrunners players recorded double-figure digs, led by Annie Kunes' 24.
UTSA will open its home slate on Thursday, Sept. 18, when it hosts Houston (6-3). First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.