SAN ANTONIO - A relentless UTSA volleyball squad outlasted the UAB Blazers in five intense sets Friday evening at the Convocation Center in a 3-2 come-from-behind victory (21-25,26-28,29-27,25-20,16-14).
The Roadrunners (8-13, 6-3 C-USA) outscored the Blazers (11-15, 4-6 CIUSA) 16-14 in the fifth and deciding set to improve to 9-1 all-time against UAB.
UTSA senior Marijeta Runjic put up a monster double-double with a career-high 27 kills to go along with 19 digs. Rounding out the UTSA offense were sophomores Brianna McCulloch and Kara Teal with 19 and 12 kills, respectively.
Junior setter Amanda Gonzales also shined with a match-high 62 assists and eight digs. Four Roadrunners posted 15 digs or more in an 89-dig performance, led by 19 from Runjic. Libero Emily Ramirez followed with 18 digs while Brianna Hudson added 17 and Shelby Williams chipped in 15.
After dropping the first two sets, the Roadrunners responded with victories in sets three and four to force a fifth set. UTSA secured the third frame off a pair of UAB errors and a kill from freshman Hannah Froeschl. The Birds carried their momentum into the fourth set as they controlled frame with 21 kills to UAB's 16.
In the final set, UAB held a slight edge over UTSA but after a tie at 14 on a kill from McCulloch, the Roadrunners rolled off two straight points to claim the set, 16-14, and the match, 3-2.
The Roadrunners will be in search for its seventh Conference USA victory when they host LA Tech at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
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