SAN ANTONIO – Sophomores Hannah Lopez and Kirby Smith registered double-doubles in UTSA's setback against Houston in the opening match of the UTSA Classic, presented by Courtyard by Marriott at The Rim, Friday at the Convocation Center.
Despite Lopez's (12 kill, 10 dig) and Smith's (11 dig, 10 kill) performances, the Roadrunners fall to 1-3 on the young season with the 3-1 (25-19, 19-25, 21-25, 21-25) while the Cougars improved to 2-4.
The duo is tied for the team lead with two double-double results in four matches.
Sophomore Mia Perales recorded her second consecutive 20-plus assists performance for UTSA with 23. Senior Brianna McCulloch continued her streak of consistent play, converting 12 of 30 (.367) kill opportunities, while freshman Bianca Ejesieme posted a .333 average (6 of 15).
In a match decided by just eight points and posted 22 ties and four lead changes, Houston capitalized by converting 14 more kills, despite posting a lower average than UTSA. The Cougars registered 61 kills and 25 errors in 156 chances (.231), while the Roadrunners hit .235 (47 for 136 with 15 errors).
Set 1: In a back-and-forth match with seven ties and one lead change, UTSA closed out the set with a 7-2 run. Leading 18-17, Hannah Lopez slammed home two of her four match high kills to push the margin out to three. The Cougars answered with back-to-back kills before Bianca Ejesieme made it 20-19 and forcing a timeout by the opposition. Houston's attempt to stymie the momentum failed as the Roadrunners' Courtney Walters delivered a service ace and the visitors committed three errors in succession.
Set 2: The second set played similarly to the first but went to Houston as UTSA committed four miscues down the stretch. Knotted at 16-16, the Cougars rattled off nine of the final 12 points, equaling the Roadrunners 25-19 result in the opening set and evening the match at one game apiece.
Set 3: Houston's early run jumped out to a 5-1 advantage in the third set. A 3-0 run by UTSA trimmed the margin to 6-4 before the visitors answered with a 6-3 spurt. Trailing 12-6, Smith led the charge as her team netted eight of the next ten points – four by Smith – and cut the score to 16-14. Momentum changed sides once again as the Cougars inched out to a 20-15 edge. They maintained a cushion, grabbing a 2-1 lead when Abbie Jackson secured the set with a kill.
Set 4: Trying to force a fifth and decisive set and trailing 10-5, the Roadrunners called timeout, trying to stem the tide. After a break in action, they answered with an 8-5 spurt, slashing the margin to two at 15-13. Houston responded with six of the next eight points and forcing the second time out of the set at 21-15. The teams traded the next five points and the Cougars needed one more to secure the match but the Roadrunners did not quit. They fought off four match points and got within 24-21 before a service error derailed the comeback, ending the contest.
Both teams play two matches tomorrow, one each against UTRGV and Maryland. UTSA and UTRGV get the tournament's final day started at 10 a.m. Houston and Maryland clash at 12:30 p.m., followed by Houston and UTRGV at 5 p.m. Maryland and the Roadrunners wrap up the event at 7:30 p.m.
