SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA volleyball team is set to host the 2024 Roadrunner Classic on Friday and Saturday, with Central Arkansas, Alabama and Sam Houston all competing in the Convocation Center.
The 'Runners will meet the Sugar Bears on Friday at 10 a.m., ahead of a 7 p.m. bout with Alabama that serves as Camp Reunion and Taylor Swift Night. UTSA then concludes the classic at 2 p.m., facing Sam Houston on Daddy-Daughter Day.
The Roadrunners (3-4, 0-0 The American) went 2-2 over the last week, falling to Texas State (26-24, 19-25, 25-23, 25-16) before besting Holy Cross (25-10, 25-15, 25-7) and Abilene Christian (25-18, 25-16, 25-17) via sweeps to open the UTSA Invitational. The squad then fell to UIW (25-16, 25-15, 17-25, 22-25, 17-15) in five sets, concluding the invite and placing junior Mia Soerensen and sophomore Makenna Wiepert on the all-tournament team.
Soerensen recorded double-digit kills in all four of the week's matches, averaging 3.87 per set. She was incredibly efficient, maintaining a .311 hitting percentage, and had 14 blocks and five aces for 70.5 total points. Wiepert, meanwhile, dished out 86 assists, operating out of a 6-2. She also recorded 48 digs on the week, picking up double-doubles in multiple matchups while helping UTSA maintain a .249 hitting percentage.
Newcomer Martina Franco was named American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week thanks to two double-doubles and a whopping 13 service aces. She started things off with 10 kills against the Bobcats before posting six in a three-setter against Holy Cross. Twelve terminations followed against the Wildcats and 17 from the final match with the Cardinals. Additionally, senior Aliah Giroux was stellar, leading every match at the UTSA Invitational in digs. She scooped 67 of the opposition's attacks for a mark of 4.47 per set and also dished out 25 assists.
The Sugar Bears (1-5, 0-0 ASUN) had a rough week at the Ram Volleyball Classic, falling to Grand Canyon (22-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-17, 15-12), Colorado State (25-21, 19-25, 25-15, 25-21) and Oregon (25-12, 25-11, 25-17).
Caylan Koons has performed well for UCA, recording 218 assists for an average of 9.48 per set, while Alexis McDaniel paces the defense with 79 digs. Lexi Bohannan tops the team with 71 kills, and Allison Holloway in blocks boasting 16.0.
The Crimson Tide (5-1, 0-0 SEC), meanwhile, are coming off a solid weekend that featured wins over Prairie View A&M (25-18, 25-21, 26-24) and Alabama State (21-25, 25-18, 25-11, 25-1) ahead of a loss to Arizona (25-22, 25-27, 25-21, 25-21).
One of the nation's best-serving teams, Alabama, averages 2.04 aces per set for the 38th-most in the NCAA. That figure is heavily added by Callie Kieffer and Natalie Repetti, who each have 11. Francesca Bertucci has registered 92 digs to lead the team, and Chaise Campbell has blocked 23 of the opposition's attacks. Sophie Agee has provided the bulk of the Crimson Tide offense, with 92 kills, and Kieffer has delivered 126 assists for the squad.
Rounding out the group, the Bearkats (3-3, 0-0 CUSA) saw victories against Oral Roberts (25-23, 25-18, 26-24) and Bethune-Cookman (25-16, 25-27, 25-21, 25-22) and a loss at the hands of Tulsa (23-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-21) last time out.
Alyssa Fielder has been the team's top attacker, launching 60 terminations, with McKenzie Morvant not far behind at 54. Avery Fowler set the table for 191 kills, while Hannah Baker leads the way with 95 digs. Morvant is the squad's best blocker, swatting 26 of the opposition's attacks, and Folwer is also the team leader with 10 aces.
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