SAN ANTONIO — UTSA returned to the Alamo City for the start of a three-match home stand but fell in four sets (19-25, 25-9, 23-25, 15-25) to Marshall on Sunday afternoon at the Convocation Center.
In UTSA’s only set win, the Roadrunners (14-7, 5-2 C-USA) held the Thundering Herd to the lowest points total this season of nine points, matching the set score against Iona at the Texas Classic back in September.
Marijeta Runjic led the box score with 16 kills to go along with three blocks, while Kasey Kiefer added a double-digit effort of her own with 12 winners in addition to six digs. Amanda Gonzales continued to rack up double-doubles with 40 assists and 12 digs, her sixth of the year, and she also matched a season best with two blocks.
Taylor Pelton paced Marshall (14-8, 5-4 C-USA) with 17 kills, hitting .500 for the match, and she added a pair of blocks.
The Thundering Herd came on strong as they hit above .300 in all but one set, but UTSA held the Thundering Herd to a -.033 hitting percentage in the second set.
Seven ties and two lead changes resulted in the opening set that saw UTSA drop a 25-19 decision. After a serving error by Marshall evened the score at 10, the Herd took the lead on the following rally and never looked back.
In the following frame, UTSA overpowered its opponent as the Roadrunners posted a .542 hitting percentage (13-0-24). Marshall’s nine errors in the second set was the highest out of any set.
Out of the intermission, the Roadrunners struggled to grab a solid lead over the visiting team in each of the remaining sets to face their second conference loss of the season.
UTSA will return to the friendly confines of the Convocation Center on Wednesday, Oct. 21, it welcomes Charlotte for a 6 p.m. matchup.