MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — UTSA hit a season-best .391, committed a season-low six attack errors and extended its winning streak to five matches with a 25-20, 25-20, 25-16 victory at Middle Tennessee on Friday night.
The Roadrunners (8-7, 4-0 C-USA) did not reach double-digit errors in a match for the first time this season. In fact, the last time it happened was on Nov. 23, 2013, in a win against Marshall when the Birds committed only seven miscues.
UTSA hit above .400 in two of the three sets.
The Roadrunners swung at .458 in the opening set, as Dajana Boskovic registered almost half of her 13 kills with six.
The opening frame was a back-and-forth battle, as each team traded points. The stanza featured eight ties and three lead changes before UTSA managed to take the lead for good. After Miri Shade knotted the score at 14 with a kill, the Roadrunners responded with a 5-2 run.
Dempsey Thornton helped UTSA take a commanding 2-0 lead into intermission with a half dozen winners in the second stanza. Thornton finished the night with a double-double of 10 kills and 10 digs to go along with four blocks.
The Roadrunners jumped out to a 10-5 lead and forced a Middle Tennessee timeout. The Blue Raiders managed to come to within three halfway through the set, but it was not be enough against the stringent UTSA front row. The Roadrunners recorded five of their eight team blocks in the set along with 24 of their 49 digs.
UTSA cruised through the third en route to the win. The Roadrunners held the Blue Raiders to a .053 attack percentage while posting a .448 mark of their own.
Chelsea Ross paced Middle Tennessee with 16 kills and 10 digs.
UTSA will return to the Alamo City for a Sunday matchup with UTEP (2-13, 0-4 C-USA). First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m.