Texas State 3, UTSA 2
SAN MARCOS – UTSA fell to former conference rival Texas State in five sets (27-25, 25-23, 24-26, 13-25, 11-15) on Thursday night in the opening match of the Creeds & Crests Classic.
Sophomore Brianna McCulloch collected a match-best 20 kills and junior Amanda Gonzales led UTSA (0-6) with a match-high 36 assists to go along with 10 digs. Meanwhile, Marijeta Runijic added nine winners and Emily Ramirez dished out a team-best 19 digs.
The Bobcats (5-2) opened the match by jumping out to a 10-5 advantage on a trio of UTSA errors. The Birds began to chip away the deficit and eventually tied the set at 25. UTSA gained the lead and seized the set on a kill from Runjic and a Texas State setting error.
The teams went point-for-point in the second set, tying the frame nine times with six lead changes. Going on a 3-0 run, Texas State pushed ahead with a 22-20 advantage, but UTSA would win five of the last six points to close out the game and take a commanding 2-0 lead.
Texas State's Madison Diagle had five of her team-high 16 kills in the third set as the Bobcats out-hit UTSA .170-.042. McCulloch also delivered five kills in the stanza while Megan Slan collected two blocks.
Relentless, the Roadrunners fought back from a 13-9 deficit to tie the third frame at 22, but Texas State was able to regain control and tallied three of the set's final four points to cut UTSA' s advantage to one.
Texas State carried the momentum over to the fourth set out and was able to tie the match. UTSA played from behind and pulled within four, but it was not enough to keep the match from going into five sets.
The Runners added another six blocks and five kills in the final stanza, but the Bobcats would outhit UTSA .172–.114 to take the match, 3-2.
UTSA will close out the classic with a pair of matches on Friday. The first match is against SMU at 1 p.m., with the final match coming against Houston Baptist at 5 p.m.
