SAN ANTONIO — North Texas forced the fifth and deciding set, but UTSA pushed through to post a 25-20, 25-22, 29-31, 16-25, 15-9 victory on Friday night at the Convocation Center.
UTSA (11-3, 2-0 C-USA) led the match two sets to none but found themselves having to fight after North Texas came back to win the third set 31-29.
The Roadrunners managed to pull away to a two-point lead at the 20-18 mark but eight dramatic ties ensued and the score tied at 29 on a hitting error by the Mean Green. A kill followed by a miscue by the Roadrunners handed NT the win.
Momentum would hold in favor of North Texas (7-11, 1-2 C-USA) as they evened the match at two sets apiece with a 25-16 win in the fourth stanza. The Mean Green held the Roadrunners to a .100 attack percentage as the visiting team went on to hit a .367 clip, leading the entire way.
In the deciding set, the score bounced back-and-forth until a kill from Dajana Boskovic and a block by Antonela Jularic and Kara Teal led to a 6-4 lead. North Texas won the following point, but a 5-0 run by the Roadrunners gave UTSA a 12-5 advantage that would eventually lead to a 15-9 victory for the home team.
Three Roadrunners reached double figures with Marijeta Runic pacing the team with a match-high 22 kills. Boskovic added 19 winners with eight digs and a pair of blocks while Jularic finished the night with 10 kills and 17 digs for her second double-double of the season.
Meanwhile, Jessica Waldrip registered 56 helpers and added four kills and seven digs. It is the fifth match for the senior with 40-plus assists.
Defensively, Shelby Williams tallied 20 digs, her third 20-plus of the season.
For North Texas, Amanda Chamberlain led the Mean Green with 16 kills and four blocks.
UTSA will hit the road for its first road conference match of the season. The Roadrunners will visit the UTEP Miners on Sunday, Oct. 2, for a 1 p.m. matchup.
