SAN ANTONIO – UTSA kept a clean slate Sunday afternoon as they swept Conference USA opponent Southern Miss in straight sets at the Convocation Center. The Roadrunners won by scores of 25-16, 25-22, and 25-13.
The last time UTSA (16-7, 12-0) swept an opponent at home this season was just over a month ago when they hosted North Texas on Sept. 28. The Roadrunners dominated the Golden Eagles as they held USM to a .041 attack percentage, which was only the fifth time this season Southern Miss was held to a sub .100 hitting percentage.
With the win, UTSA has won 13 straight contests and is the third longest win streak in program history.
Sophomore Dajana Boskovic paced the Runners offense with 12 kills, along with four digs and three blocks.
Dempsey Thornton added nine kills with four digs, a block, assist and ace.
Jessica Waldrip totaled 34 of UTSA’s 38 assists and had a pair of blocks and aces in the win.
Defensively, UTSA notched double-digit team blocks for the second consecutive outing. The Roadrunners recorded 10 team blocks with freshman Megan Slan contributing with six (1 solo, 5 assists).
After taking the opening set 25-16, UTSA came from behind in the second set to win 25-22 and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
The second set featured eight ties with two lead changes. Southern Miss (19-10, 8-4) jumped to an early 7-3 lead and forced the Roadrunners to take their first timeout of the stanza.
UTSA slowly made up ground and eventually tied the score at 14 on a kill by Slan. Both teams took turns on the scoreboard before the Roadrunners managed to pull away from a 19-all tie on three straight points.
A Boskovic kill gave UTSA set point but a miscue by the Golden Eagles gave the Runners the 25-22 advantage.
In the final set of the match, the Roadrunners posted a .417 hitting percentage and held the Golden Eagles to a -.062 clip. USM registered 11 errors in the frame while only collecting nine kills, as compared to UTSA’s 13 kills and three errors.
Seven of UTSA’s 10 team blocks and half of Boskovic’s 12 kills came in the third stanza.
The Roadrunners will return to the friendly confines of the Convocation Center next weekend for their final two home matches of the season. UTSA will welcome UAB on Friday, Nov. 7, and host FIU two days later.