SAN ANTONIO — The UTSA volleyball team is set to host the program's first home American Athletic Conference match on Saturday as they invite a nationally recognized SMU squad into the Convocation Center for a 6 p.m. Gold Out for Pediatric Cancer contest. The Roadrunners and Mustangs will meet again on Sunday, with first serve set for 2 p.m. on Family Day, as pregame festivities will include games, food, and fun beginning at 11:30 a.m. outside of the Convo.
The Roadrunners (8-4, 1-0 AAC) started the conference slate on a high note, taking down Charlotte in a road bout on Wednesday.
UTSA swept CLT, 25-17, 25-18, 25-19, as freshman Makenna Wiepert dealt a match-high 28 assists and three service aces. Seniors Aliah Giroux and Alicia Coppedge also led statistically, as Giroux recorded 20 digs and Coppedge four blocks. Additionally, senior Mia Soerensen tied for the most kills in the match with nine.
The three-set victory over Charlotte represented the 'Runners third consecutive sweep and the program's seventh on the season, a figure that hadn't been reached since the 2016 campaign. That season that saw UTSA go 20-8, including a mark of 10-4 in league play.
Several Roadrunners have been on a hot streak, with sophomore Katelyn Krienke and Soerensen being selected for the Cardinal Classic All-Tournament team after victories over UIW and Oral Roberts last weekend, while Wiepert was chosen for the AAC Honor Roll.
The No. RV Mustangs (7-5, 1-0 AAC) are riding a four-match winning streak, recently taking down Texas Tech, A&M-Corpus Christi, and LSU as a part of the SMU DoubleTree Invitational. The Mustangs then picked up a sweep over Memphis to kick-start league play on Wednesday.
SMU has fallen to just one non-ranked opponent, as they've suffered setbacks against Utah State, No. 5 Nebraska, No. RV Auburn, No. 20 Purdue, and No. 21 Houston on the season. Additionally, the Mustangs have picked up critical victories against a Florida State team that was receiving votes and No. 14 Baylor.
Naya Shime, Emma Clothier, and Natalie Perdue have all surpassed the 100-kill mark on the season, as Clothier carries a slew of momentum into the contest. She hit .800 and totaled 12 kills in their AAC opening matchup with Memphis and is coming off an All-Tournament performance at the Mustangs home tournament. Jamison Wheeler was named MVP at the SMU DoubleTree Invitational after logging 53 successful attacks across three matches, while Sina Uluave rounded out the selections at the invite.
Ulavae leads the Mustangs in digs with 131 thus far, as Brooke Fraizer has logged 109 and Ceila Cullen 106. Additionally, Cullen has been the Mustang's primary setter, posting 428 assists for an average of 9.51 per set.
Keep up with UTSA Volleyball all season long on goutsa.com, and by following the program on Facebook at /UTSAVBall, X (Twitter) @UTSAVolleyball, and on Instagram @utsa_vb.
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