EL PASO, Texas – UTSA rallied from an early deficit to claim a 3-1 (20-25, 25-19, 25-23, 26-24) victory over UTEP for the second time in a week at Memorial Gym.
The Roadrunners (10-7, 3-1 C-USA) extended their winning streak Sunday to 14 matches over the Miners (7-9, 0-3 C-USA) – including a perfect 11-0 since joining Conference USA in 2013.
Sophomore Hannah Lopez smashed a career-best .458 hitting percentage (13-2-24), with a game-high 13 kills. Classmate Kirby Smith tallied 12 kills and a personal-best four aces.
Senior Kara Teal rejected nine UTEP attacks, setting a career-best and adding nine kills.
Freshman Courtney Walters continued her streak of double-digit assists with 25, while sophomore Mia Perales chipped in with 17 helpers.
Senior libero Emily Ramirez tallied 11 digs to lead the Roadrunners.
UTEP rode an early 7-1 run to the opening game win. Trailing 15-7, the Roadrunners settled in and trimmed the deficit to two at 19-17. A 6-3 run by the hosts secured the set.
Lopez powered the offense with four kills in the second game and the defense blocked six UTEP attacks – two by Teal – pulling even at one game apiece as the teams went to intermission.
UTSA built a 7-3 and like the host in the first game, the Roadrunners held the Miners at bay, holding seven set points. After a timeout by UTSA, following two points by UTEP, Brianna McCulloch blasted a kill, securing the win.
Following intermission, the Roadrunners continued their momentum and enjoyed a 7-2 advantage with two aces by Ramirez, two kills by Smith and another by Teal. An 7-4 run by the home side trimmed the edge to 11-9 before the Roadrunners answered and forced a Miners timeout at 18-13. Maritine Kragholm's service ace knotted things at 18-18.
After three service errors – two by UTEP – put UTSA out-front 20-19, the Roadrunners grabbed a four-point cushion on a Jenna Patton kill, a miscue by the Miners and a service ace by Walters. A quick 4-0 spurt by UTEP evened things at 23-23 forcing a visitor timeout. Kills by Lopez and Brianna McCulloch salted away the victory for the guest.
Facing deficits of 6-3 and 13-9 after a sluggish start in game four, UTSA regained its footing and a Smith ace made it 15-15. The teams traded points and the home side seemed poised to force a fifth and deciding game when a Roadrunner service error made it 24-23 UTEP.
A kill by Teal forced extra points and two attack errors in succession by the home team sealed the game 26-24 and the match.
UTSA returns home for two matches, beginning with LA Tech Friday. The annual Dig Pink Match – in honor of breast cancer awareness – begins at 6 p.m. First serve of Sunday's contest against UAB is at 1 p.m.
