SAN MARCOS, Texas – UTSA volleyball dropped a pair of hard-fought matches Friday at the Creeds & Crests Classic, falling to SMU and Houston Baptist in 3-1 matches.
SMU 3, UTSA 1
In the first match against SMU, three Roadrunners reached double figure kills and Ashley Dominguez recorded her first double-double of the season with 19 assists and 15 digs, but the Mustangs would claim the match in the fourth set.
Marijeta Runjic led the way with 12 kills while Hannah Froeschl added 11 and Kara Teal chipped in 10. Shelby Williams added a team-best 21 digs.
UTSA grabbed the first set, 25-21 behind a .378 hitting percentage on 20 kills with three errors on 45 total swings. The Runners would carry their momentum into the second set, opening the frame with a 3-1 run. UTSA pushed to a 18-13 lead until SMU rallied to overcome the five-point deficit and will the set, 25-23.
Momentum shifted back to UTSA early in the fourth set as a kill from Teal sparked a 6-4 lead for the Roadrunners. SMU fought back with a six unanswered to take a 10-6 advantage. The Mustangs would not relinquish the lead, taking the second set, 25-21.
UTSA would commit fewer errors than SMU in the final set, but the Mustangs capitalized on 20 kills to take the set, 25-20.
HBU 3, UTSA 1
In the second match, Brianna McCulloch paced UTSA with 15 kills and seven digs, while Runjic had 10 kills. Overall, HBU hit .333 in the match and held UTSA to a .176 hitting percentage.
UTSA took a 6-2 lead in the first, but HBU rebounded to lead 8-7. The two teams were within a point of one another until the Roadrunners went up by two at 15-13. Leading 20-18, UTSA scored the final five points of the set, behind a pair of kills by McCulloch, for a 25-18 win.
Despite trailing after the first set, the Huskies would limit the Roadrunners to a .209 or below hitting percent for the next three sets and claim the match, 3-1 (18-25, 25-23,25-17,25-12).
The Roadrunners stay on the road next weekend as they compete in the Baylor Classic, Sept.15-16, in Waco, Texas.
