SAN ANTONIO – UTSA dropped a three-set match (18-25, 24-26, 22-25) in its home opener to No. 6 Texas in front of a school-record 2,711 fans Tuesday night at the Convocation Center.
The Longhorns (8-2) hit .365 and posted 14 total blocks to hand the Roadrunners (2-10) the loss.
Micaya White led a trio of Texas players into double figures with 17 kills, while Lexi Sun logged a double-double of 13 winners and 11 digs. Yaazie Bedart-Ghani chipped in with 11 kills, while Ashley Shook handed out 37 assists and tallied 13 digs.
Meanwhile, UTSA was held to a .198 hitting percentage on 126 attacks. Amanda Gonzales dished out 29 helpers, while Marijeta Runjic led the hosts with 10 kills. Emily Ramirez collected a match-high 17 digs and Brianna McCulloch added 14.
Beginning the match, UTSA and Texas traded points through competitive rallies inside a raucous Convocation Center. Taking the opening set's first five-point lead at 13-8, drawing a Roadrunner timeout and again 17-10, the Longhorns absorbed the UTSA offense to claim the frame, 25-18.
Texas continued its momentum with a 10-5 advantage in the second set, but a persistent UTSA surged back as consecutive aces from Gonzales fueled a 7-0 run for the host. Pacing competitive rallies, the teams would decorate the remainder of the set with seven lead changes and 13 ties. With the score knotted at 23, a McCulloch kill would edge the Roadrunners to set point at 24-23, but consecutive kills from Bedart-Ghani would secure the following points and the set for Texas at 26-24.
Unyielding, UTSA set the pace in building a 15-10 lead in the third frame, but Texas again turned the tides with a decisive rally at the end of the set. With the score knotted at 22, the Longhorns used an 8-0 run to control the Roadrunners and finish the sweep.
Up next, UTSA will open Conference USA play with a road match against Southern Miss on Sunday, Sept. 24. The match is set for 1 p.m. CT in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
