MINNEAPOLIS – UTSA volleyball (0-5) faced a competitive Saturday with matches against No.2 Minnesota and West Virginia in the second day of the Diet Coke Classic.
The Roadrunners fell to the Gophers, 3-0 (25-12, 25-17, 25-14), before dropping to West Virginia, 3-1 (25-19, 19-25, 25-20, 25-20).
UTSA was paced by Brianna McCulloch, who hammered out 31 kills on the day for a .321 hitting percentage. The sophomore collected a team-best 13 kills against nationally-ranked Minnesota while delivering 18 kills over West Virginia.
Marijeta Runjic finished the day with 21 kills including a team-best 20 kills against West Virginia. The senior also dished out 14 digs against the Mountaineers for her second double-double of the season.
No. 2 Minnesota 3, UTSA 0
Minnesota opened the match by taking set one, 25-12. The Roadrunners battled back in the second stanza, tying the Gophers six times, before falling 25-17. Minnesota secured the win with a 25-14 victory in the third set.
West Virginia 3, UTSA 1
The first set found the Mountaineers up 6-1, but a kill from Hannah Froeschl sparked a 6-2 run for the Runners, cutting the deficit to two. Both teams would exchange runs, but West Virginia would not relinquish the lead to earn the opening frame 25-19
In the second set West Virginia jumped out to an early 3-1 lead, but UTSA battled back to tie the set at three. The stanza went back-and-forth with the teams swapping the lead before UTSA rattled off a 6-1 run to take a 14-9 advantage. Powered by eight kills from Runjic, the Roadrunners registered a .467 attack percentage compared to a .189 showing from West Virginia. UTSA maintained control, claiming the set 25-19.
With the score tied at one, the third set became the decision maker as the teams tied the score 14 times. Knotted at 20, the Mountaineers scored the last five points to win the set 25-20.
In the fourth set, West Virginia controlled the action as opened with a 6-1 advantage. Fueled by consecutive kills from Runjic, UTSA bounced back to come within one at 11-10, but the Mountaineers answered back and eventually took the set 25-20.
Next up, UTSA returns to Texas for Texas State's Creeds and Crests Classic next weekend. In the classic, the Roadrunners will matchup against SMU, Houston Baptist and host Texas State.
