SAN ANTONIO – Freshman Courtney Walters set a school record and UTSA cruised to a 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-8) win over Incarnate Word Tuesday at the Convocation Center.
The Roadrunners improve to 6-4 on the season, including four wins in succession. They improved to 9-1 all-time – with eight consecutive victories over the Cardinals - which fell to 4-7 on the campaign.
Walters set the tone for the team and herself, dropping an ace inside the back line on the very first serve of the match - one of seven on the night. The previous three-set match record was six, accomplished twice, with the last one occuring Sept. 10, 1995. Walters finished one ace shy of the all-time school record in any match at eight.
Consecutive kills by Hannah Lopez gave the Roadrunners a 13-7 advantage and forcing UIW to take a timeout. Emily Ramirez delivered back-to-back aces after the break. A kill by the visitors slowed the run but kills by Bianca Ejesieme and Madeline McKay sandwiched around an attacking error forced another timeout by UIW. The teams traded points the rest of the opening game and McKay's kill on set point gave UTSA the early 1-0 lead.
In similar fashion, the Cardinals were forced to use both allotted timeouts in the second set, trying to stop the onslaught. An attack error by UIW's Bethany Clapp made it 14-9 when the visitors called for a stoppage. A Mia Perales' ace and kill by Ejesieme book-ended a 5-2 spurt and another break by the Cardinals, trailing 19-11.
UIW fought off four-set points before succumbing 25-16 on a smash by Brianna McCulloch sent the teams to intermission and the home side leading 2-0.
Carissa McGarity's kill started the third game and a rare attacking miscue by the Roadrunners – one of four on the night – gave UIW its only two leads of the match at 1-0 and 2-1. A 13-3 run built UTSA's margin out to 14-5 before the Cardinals used its first timeout of the set. UTSA pressed on, forcing the final stoppage of the night at 18-6, before a 7-2 spurt secured the win.
UTSA closes its non-conference schedule at the Creeds and Crests Classic, hosted by Texas State in San Marcos, Texas Thursday through Saturday. The Roadrunners and Bobcats clash at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
