SAN ANTONIO -- After equaling the two best starts in program history, UTSA volleyball will embark on a stiff two-day test at the University of Houston's Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup. UTSA will face Houston on Friday at 11:30 a.m. and Houston Baptist at 4:30 p.m. before concluding the event vs. Cornell on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.
UTSA (5-1) has opened the year with the best start to a season in program annals, equaling the 1985 and 2015 teams, who each started the year 6-1. The Roadrunners have posted a tournament win in the Army Invitational on opening weekend, which featured a four-set win over San Francisco, and a second-place finish in Texas State's Creeds & Crests Classic last week.
The Roadrunners have totaled 14.2 kills, 13.6 assists, 15.4 digs and 1.5 aces per set to open the year. UTSA has seen juniors Brianna McCulloch and Kara Teal help power the offense, with McCulloch owning 3.70 kills per set with a .287 hitting percentage. Teal has averaged 2.39 kills per set and a team-best 1.00 block per set. Kirby Smith has 3.05 kills and 3.91 digs per set to lead all C-USA freshmen in each category. Sophomore Hannah Froeschl has averaged 2.43 kills per set and hit for a .310 percentage. Freshman Hannah Lopez owns 2.89 kills and 2.22 digs per set, with senior Shelby Williams leading the team with 3.91 digs per set. Amanda Gonzales leads the team with 10.57 assists per set.
Houston (8-0) is off to its best start to the year since a 12-0 opening for the 1975 Cougars. UH has wins over Murray State, New Orleans, Nebraska-Omaha, Prairie View A&M, Nicholls State, Sam Houston State, Mississippi Valley State and Louisiana-Lafayette. The Cougars have averaged 13.4 kills, 12.5 assists, 13.9 digs and 1.9 aces per set as a team. Megan Duncan has a team-best 3.59 kills per set with Katie Karbo leading the team with 4.44 digs per set.
The Cougars own a 4-3 lead in the series with UTSA but the Roadrunners have won two consecutive meetings (2012, 2014). UTSA leads the series with BUP, 5-3 and have won two of the last three in the series.
Houston Baptist (4-3) opened the year with four straight wins before suffering three consecutive losses last weekend, falling vs. Liberty, South Carolina and Rice. HBU has averaged 12.8 kills, 12.0 assists, 14.8 digs and two aces per set. HBU has been paced individually by Mikayla Vivens (3.43 kills per set), Madison O'Brien (9.43 assists per set) and Hannah Lewis (4.00 digs per set).
Cornell (2-1) has posted wins over Sienna and Buffalo in five sets to open the year and suffered a three-set loss to St. John's. The Big Red has averaged 12.8 kills, 11.8 assists, 15.9 digs and 1.3 aces per set as a team. Carla Sganderlia has a team-best 3.10 kills per set, Zoe Chamness has a team-best 6.77 assists per set and Lily Barber leads the team with 4.54 digs per set.
- GO UTSA -
