SAN ANTONIO – Powered by an all-around team performance, the UTSA volleyball team hit .347 on Sunday en route to a 25-19, 25-14, 25-17 sweep over Marshall.
The Roadrunners improved to 5-11 overall and a 3-1 standing in Conference USA with their second straight victory. Sophomore Brianna McCulloch guided the team with a match-high 15 winners, followed by sophomore Kara Teal with 12 and senior Marijeta Runjic added 10.
Junior Amanda Gonzales aided the team's attack percentage with a match-high 37 assists while adding 10 digs for her fifth double-double of the season. Senior Megan Slan also added strength to the Roadrunner offense with four winners and zero errors for a .667 hitting percentage.
Overall, UTSA totaled 45 kills to Marshall's 26. The Roadrunners also edged out the Herd in digs, 41-34, as they held the Thundering Herd to a .163 attack percentage.
UTSA opened the match with a 6-2 run, en route to a 25-19 set win. After a pair of Teal kills, the Roadrunners went up 10-5 as Marshall called a timeout. Following the break, back-to-back aces from Runjic sparked a 4-1 run that propelled the Roadrunners to a 17-13 lead. The Herd battled back to come within three, but UTSA maintained its offensive pressure and claimed the set on a 3-0 run.
In the second set, the Roadrunners posted a .389 hitting percentage and held the Herd to only six kills and a .129 clip. Behind four kills from McCulloch, UTSA opened the frame with an 11-2 lead and never looked back. The Birds closed out the frame scoring five of the final nine points and took a commanding 2-0 advantage into the locker room.
Marshall opened the final set with a 4-2 lead, only to have the Roadrunners tie the set at 6-6. UTSA broke the tie with a kill from Runjic and a service ace from Antonela Jularic. Registering a .464 hitting percentage, the Roadrunners maintained their momentum and secured the frame, 25-17.
UTSA returns to the friendly confines of the Convocation Center on Friday, Oct. 13, when it hosts Middle Tennessee. The Roadrunners will round out the weekend with a Sunday matchup against UTEP in El Paso.
