SAN ANTONIO - Sophomore Brianna McCulloch and senior Marijeta Runjic registered double-doubles to fuel UTSA's five-set (25-16, 25-17, 24-26, 17-25, 15-8) victory over UTEP (4-12, 1-2 C-USA) on Sunday.
Leading the way for UTSA (4-11, 2-1 C-USA) McCulloch registered her fourth double-double of the season with 19 kills and 15 digs. Classmate Kara Teal added 15 winners while senior Megan Slan posted 14. Runjic rounded out the squad with 10 kills in addition to her 12 digs, securing her second double-double of the season.
Meanwhile, Amanda Gonzales notched a career-best 57 assists with five digs and a trio of service aces.
The defense was spread out among the team with four Roadrunners reaching double-figure digs. Libero Emily Ramirez paced the quartet with 17 digs.
In the first set, UTSA spread the offense around and won the opening frame 25-16. McCulloch and Teal propelled the corps in the first set with five kills each. The sophomores also registered a .500 and a 1.000 attack percentage, respectively. As a team, the Roadrunners hit at a .406 clip while limiting UTEP to a .167 attack percentage.
UTSA came out stronger in the second set as the Roadrunner defense cut the Miners attack to a .056 clip. The Birds totaled 16 kills to UTEP's eight and also tallied 20 digs and two blocks.
Unlike the first two sets, the third stanza was competitive contest between the Roadrunners and Miners as the frame saw 13 ties and seven lead changes. UTEP earned the final tie at 24 off a kill from Maddie Morgan and consecutive UTSA attack errors gave the set to the Miners.
The match headed into the deciding set after UTEP won the fourth 25-17.
In the deciding frame, UTSA used a 6-1 run to lead 10-3 and held on to force the visitors to consecutive timeouts. The Roadrunners earned match point of a trio of McCulloch kills, but UTEP scored back-to-back points before McCulloch delivered her 19th kill of the match to seal the UTSA win.
UTSA will return to the Alamo City for a Sunday matinee against Marshall. First serve is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
