UTSA captures share of Conference USA Championship with sweep at RiceUTSA captures share of Conference USA Championship with sweep at Rice
Volleyball

UTSA captures share of Conference USA Championship with sweep at Rice

HOUSTON — UTSA captured at least a share of the Conference USA Regular Season Championship with a sweep of Rice (25-19, 25-21, 25-22) on Saturday.

The Roadrunners (19-8, 15-1 C-USA) will enter next week's C-USA Tournament as the top seed by virtue of their four-set victory against Western Kentucky, which comes into its Saturday night match against Middle Tennessee at 14-1 in league play, back on Oct. 17.

It marks UTSA’s second consecuitve regular season crown and the Roadrunners now are one triumph shy of their fifth straight 20-win season.

Dajana Boskovic had a career day that included 24 kills, which led to a .400 hitting percentage. She also notched six digs and four blocks.

Meanwhile, Dempsey Thornton chipped in with 11 winners, nine digs and a pair of blocks at the net.

Jessica Waldrip, who handed out 41 assists, picked up her 15th match of 40-plus helpers, as UTSA hit .319 and held Rice to a .223 attack percentage.

The Roadrunners had to battle through 11 ties and five lead changes in the opening set, but they pulled away after a tie at 14. A 4-1 run gave UTSA an 18-15 lead, which forced a Rice timeout. The Roadrunners held onto the advantage and scored the final two points of the frame on a Boskovic kill and block from Kylie Schott and Boskovic.

UTSA played from behind for much of the second stanza, as it hit .325 and held Rice to a .235 clip, and it closed out the frame on a 4-0 run.

Boskovic paced the Roadunners in the final set with 11 kills. UTSA led the entire way despite Rice’s late 4-0 run. Thornton gave UTSA match point with a kill and Boskovic secured the win with another winner.

Chelsey Harris led the Owls with 14 kills, while Sara Blasier added 30 assitsts.

Next week's postseason tournament is scheduled to begin on Friday, Nov. 21, in Hattiesburg, Miss.