Denton, Texas — UTSA suffered a 3-1 (25-19,22-25, 28-26,25-20) loss to Conference USA foe North Texas on Friday evening.
UTSA's second conference match of the year saw four Roadrunners record double-digit kills. The quartet was paced by Brianna McCulloch with a match-high 18 kills. Marjieta Runjic followed with 15 while Megan Slan and Kara Teal each added 12 kills.
Shelby Williams aided the defense with 13 digs, while Emily Ramirez added 10. As a team, UTSA (3-11, 1-1 C-USA) finished the match with eight blocks, including three solo blocks from McCulloch, Teal and Antonela Jularic.
The Mean Green (15-2, 2-1 C-USA) got off to a hot start with a 6-2 lead to open the match, forcing the Roadrunners to a timeout. Following the break, UTSA ignited for a 4-0 run to tie the set at six. The teams exchanged long rallies to tie the set nine more times. With the score locked at 20, consecutive kills from NT's Emma Eakin helped the Mean Green push ahead and take the opening stanza, 25-19.
The tables turned in the second set as UTSA held North Texas to a .233 hitting percentage while hitting a .297 clip. The Roadrunners recorded 18 of their 63 kills in the frame, including five winners from Slan. The score was tied at 18 before UTSA gained control and utilized a 6-1 run to go in front, 24-19. UNT battled back to come within two at 24-22, but the Birds would close the set on a kill from Jularic.
North Texas took the match lead in a competitive third set. The sore was tied 18 times and the lead changed hands on five occasions. The final tie came late in the frame after an attack error by UTSA knotted the score at 26. The Mean Green snuck by to collect the last two points on a service ace and a Roadrunner attack error.
UTSA struggled to keep pace with the Mean Green in the fourth set. The Roadrunners attempted to make a late comeback after North Texas took a 19-14 lead. UTSA rattled off four points and forced the host team to call a timeout, but the Mean Green claimed four of the last seven point to secure the set and the match.
The Roadrunners will look to bounce back on Sunday when they host the UTEP Miners at the Convocation Center for a noon matchup.
