SAN ANTONIO – UTSA fell to North Texas in five sets Sunday afternoon at the Convocation Center (25-23, 17-25, 21-25, 25-19, 15-17).
UTSA (7-12, 2-5) dropped its third straight Conference USA match as North Texas (10-12, 4-3), led by Aryn Johnson, won the match. Johnson tallied 25 kills to lead all players.
UTSA's two C-USA wins are tied for the fifth most in the conference, as Middle Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, Florida Atlantic, Charlotte and FIU all have two wins too.
First Set (UTSA: 25-23: North Texas)
Both teams came out in the first set swinging and trading points. Neither team was able to gain any separation as it was a 15-14 UNT lead at the media timeout. The two squads continued to trade points and the set found itself knotted back up at 20. From there UTSA was able to go on a 5-3 run and earn the first set victory. Cansu Günaydin had three kills while three other Roadrunners had two apiece. UTSA also had five blocks in the set.
Second Set (North Texas: 25-17: UTSA)
The first half of the second set was much like the first, a tightly contested game that, at the media timeout, stood 15-13 UNT. However, unlike the first set, the Mean Green were able to string some points together in the latter half of the set, going on a 10-4 run to close out the Roadrunners and tie the match at 1-1. The Roadrunners were held to just a .077 hitting percentage in the set, their lowest of the day.
Third Set (North Texas: 25-21: UTSA)
The third set saw eight ties and three lead changes, but it was North Texas who eventually pulled away with the victory, taking a 2-1 lead. Katelyn Krienke and Alicia Coppedge each had four kills in the set to lead the offense.
Fourth Set (UTSA: 25-19: North Texas)
The Roadrunners anchored down in the fourth set, putting an end to the Mean Green momentum, and forcing a set five. UTSA was able to claim an early five-point lead and never let UNT back within three from there on out. Krienke again led the way with four kills and the squad had another five team blocks.
Fifth Set (Charlotte: 17-15: UTSA)
Neither team was willing to budge as we reached set five. The two Texas-based C-USA schools battled but ultimately North Texas came away with the win. After going up three, 10-7, UTSA rallied to know the set up at 11 apiece. From there on the scoring went back and forth until the Mean Green won after two points of bonus volleyball. Coppedge (13), Günaydin (12) and Krienke (11) led UTSA in kills while Mekaila Aupiu (25) and Courtney Walters (21) led the team in assists. The 13 team blocks were a season high for the Roadrunners.
Up Next
UTSA plays again this coming Friday, Oct. 21, when the squad heads west to face the UTEP Miners. Friday night's match is set to begin at 6 p.m. and the action will be streamed on CUSA.tv.
- UTSA -
