SAN ANTONIO — Led by double-digit kills from sophomore Brianna McCulloch and seniors Marijeta Runjic and Megan Slan, the UTSA volleyball team rolled past Middle Tennessee by scores of 21-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-15 on Friday night at the Convocation Center.
McCulloch led UTSA (6-11, 4-1 C-USA) with 13 winners, while Runjic racked up 11 and Slan added 10. Junior Amanda Gonzales was just two digs away from claiming another double-double on the season after dishing out a match-high 34 assists in addition to collecting eight digs. Meanwhile, junior Shelby Williams led the Birds' back-row effort with a match-high 16 digs.
Middle Tennessee (5-16, 1-6 C-USA) received 15 winners from Dora Peonia, while Makila York chipped in 10. Brienna Tankesley led the Blue Raiders with 15 digs and Taylor Hammill dished out 29 assists.
The Blue Raiders controlled the tempo of the first stanza, jumping out to a 14-9 advantage. Middle Tennessee led from the first serve and cruised the rest of the way to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Peonia chalked up seven winners to pace MTSU's .257 hitting percentage in the frame. UTSA fell short on the attack, hitting only .219 in the set.
Relentless, the Roadrunners opened the second set with a 3-0 run over the Blue Raiders before Middle Tennessee battled back to tie the score at 3-3. The Blue Raiders tied with UTSA another eight times before falling in the second frame, 25-22. The Roadrunners received a boost from sophomore Kara Teal, who hammered out six winners in the frame.
Middle Tennessee grabbed the first point in the third set, but the Roadrunners maintained the controlled as they ignited for a 10-4 advantage. The teams would tie the set eight more times, but UTSA closed out the frame off a MTSU attack error.
UTSA continued to roll in the fourth stanza.
The Roadrunners reeled off five consecutive points behind the serving of McCulloch to take a 5-0 lead. The teams split the next 24 points before a pair of kills from Antonela Jularic gave the 'Runners a 20-12 advantage. The match came to an end on a MTSU setting error.
UTSA will continue league play on Sunday when its visits UTEP. First serve is slated for 1 p.m. (CT) in El Paso.
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