SAN ANTONIO — UTSA dropped a five-set marathon to Conference USA opponent Rice by scores of 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 25-19, 12-15 on Saturday afternoon. The setback puts UTSA AT 11-15 overall and 9-5 in C-USA action at the end of the regular season.
Junior Amanda Gonzales led the way with a double-double of 57 assists and 14 digs, while senior Marijeta Runjic tallied a match-high 25 kills. Sophomores Brianna McCulloch and Kara Teal and freshman Hannah Froeschl helped the offense with 13, 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Sophomore Emily Ramirez's 23 digs paced four Roadrunners in double-digits.
Things looked promising from the start for the Roadrunners, who claimed a 1-0 lead on the strength of five Runjic kills and a sideout percentage of 61-percent in the opening frame. Rice (21-7, 11-3) hit .116 while committing seven errors.
Rice outhit UTSA (.250-.222) to even the match heading into intermission, as the Owls broke a 20-all tie in the second with a 4-1 run that included seven kill from Nicole Lennon, who finished with a team-high 23 winners.
Fighting for the lead, the Roadrunners came out firing in the third stanza. Eight of Runjic's 20 attempts found the court, as UTSA outhit Rice, .225-.184. Senior Megan Slan picked up a set-leading three blocks to give the Birds a 2-1 lead.
Rice fought back with a 25-19 fourth set including a 5-3 opening run. UTSA regained some of its offensive mojo in the fifth set with four kills from McCulloch, but Rice strung together consecutive rallies to claim the deciding set, 15-12.
UTSA will be right back on the court next weekend when it heads to Bowling Green, Ky., for the 2017 C-USA Championship. The tournament's bracket will be released later this weekend.
