SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA Volleyball team got back in the win column on Friday, as they took down UAB, 25-22, 25-21, 25-19 for their first American Athletic Conference victory in what represented the squad's Homecoming match.
The Roadrunners (7-13, 1-6 The American) bested the Blazers (7-11, 2-5 The American), as sophomore Peyton Turner led the match with 15 digs. Classmate Kai Bailey, meanwhile, dominated, working 12 kills at a .450 clip with four blocks. Senior Alicia Coppedge matched her blocking total, while newcomer Ally Tribe wasn't far behind on the kill leader board, logging 10 and junior Mia Soerensen nine. Additionally, freshman Morgen Durgens and sophomore Annika Sokol set the table for UTSA, each logging 19 assists and helping the team to a .329 hitting percentage.
UTSA used multiple terminations by Tribe and Bailey to build an 8-3 advantage in the first frame. The Blazers battled back, knotting the stanza 10-10, before the squads exchanged blows, prompting a 15-15 tie. A junior Caroline Krueger kill and a senior Faye Wilbricht ace shortly after handed the 'Runners a 19-16 lead, and a successful attack by Coppedge saw a 20-18 edge. UTSA kept the opposition at arm's length for the remainder of the set as a wide UAB serve secured a 25-22 win.
A back-and-forth start to the second saw a 13-12 UAB lead before a Coppedge kill and consecutive Blazer errors flipped the script. After a UAB block, terminations for Soerensen and Coppedge sparked a five-point UTSA run that put the Roadrunners in the driver's seat. UTSA then halted a UAB comeback as a Bailey kill and a UAB miscue saw a 25-21 victory.
Neither team could gain an inch in the third until the 'Runners worked a 6-2 rally for a 23-18 lead. Soerensen and Bailey combined for a block, and a later kill by Tribe cemented the 25-19 win as well as the sweep.
UTSA will be back in action on Sunday as they take on Tulsa with a noon first serve ahead of the team's Cancer Awareness contest.
Keep up with UTSA Volleyball on goutsa.com, and by following the program on Facebook at /UTSAVBall, Twitter @UTSAVolleyball, and on Instagram @utsa_vb.
-UTSA-