SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA volleyball squad is back in action tomorrow, Oct. 23, as it returns home from an El Paso road trip to host FIU in a Sunday showdown. Opening serve is set for 1 p.m. and the match will be streamed on CUSA.tv.
The Roadrunners (7-13, 2-6) will look to snap a four-game losing streak against the Panthers (5-16, 2-6) in front of a Sunday home crowd. FIU is 2-6 in its last eight games with wins against both MTSU and UAB at home.
Fans who are attending tomorrow afternoon's match are encouraged to show their school spirit and dress up in celebration of Homecoming.
Leading the Roadrunners
The Roadrunners are led offensively by Rutgers transfer Cansu Günaydin who leads the team in both points (249.5) and kills (222) while being second on the team in aces (17). Günaydin has also tallied 145 digs, the second most on the team, and has 18 total blocks. She has appeared in all but one set on the season for the Roadrunners and has been the go-to offensive threat.
Two Roadrunners have appeared in all 74 sets on the season. Among those two is junior middle blocker Alicia Coppedge. Coppedge boasts 173.5 points on 140 kills as she sits second on the team in each category. On the defensive side of the net Coppedge leads all Roadrunners with 64 total blocks and also has 12 digs.
The other Roadrunner mainstay is true freshman defensive specialist Ava Camacho. Camacho leads the team with 339 digs, the sixth most in the conference, and has tallied the most digs amongst any C-USA player in a five-set match (40) and a four-set match (31). Camacho was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 3. Camacho also has 11 aces on the season, the third most by any UTSA player.
Senior setter Courtney Walters continues to set up her teammates, as the McKinney, Texas native has 525 assists on the season. Her 525 assists are the eighth most in the conference and Walters holds the high mark for most assists in a match by any C-USA player this season as she tallied 60 against McNeese earlier in the year.
Junior outside hitter Kelsey Carpenter is one of five Roadrunners who have over 100 points and 100 kills as the Midlothian, Texas native has 148.5 points with 130 kills. Her 2.06 kills per set are the second most on the team and not far behind her is freshman Katelyn Krienke who averages 2.03 per set. Krienke has tallied 148 points and also has 128 kills to date.
Scouting FIU
The Panthers are led by an offensive trio consisting of three student-athletes who all have over 200 points and 165 kills. Athina Dimitriadis (198), Emily Meyer (199) and Alyssa Wissinger (168) lead FIU in kills and are the backbone of the Panthers' attack.
FIU's main setter, Sarah Nading, leads the team in assists, totaling 486 so far on the year. The Panthers have five players with over 10 aces on the season and leading the way is Katie Turner who has notched 19.
On the defensive side of the net, Turner leads the Panthers with 369 digs, placing her in the top five of the conference, while Wissinger (61) and Dimitriadis (60) lead FIU in total blocks.
Series history
UTSA and FIU will be meeting for the tenth time in program history this Sunday with the Roadrunners holding an 8-1 all-time advantage. UTSA is undefeated against FIU in matches played in San Antonio, going 6-0 against the Panthers in home matches.
Up next
UTSA will return to action next Friday, Oct. 28, when it welcomes nationally ranked Rice to the Historic Convocation Center. First serve is set for 6 p.m. and the match will be streamed on both CUSA.tv and Stadium Plus. Fans who attend Friday's match are encouraged to show up dressed in their Halloween costumes.
- UTSA -
