CHARLOTTE, N.C. – On Friday, UTSA Volleyball played its first road match of the 2026 American Conference slate, visiting Charlotte from Halton Arena. The Roadrunners prevailed in four sets (25-23, 21-25, 25-20, 25-19), clinching their first league win of the season to improve to 10-4 overall with a 1-2 mark in American action. With the loss, the 49ers dropped to 3-11 while still in search of their first league victory at 0-3.
FIRST SET
Two early Isabella Arroyave kills helped UTSA pull in front before Charlotte answered with a 7-1 run to take the lead. The visitors responded with a 7-2 burst of their own, boosted by a kill and a block from MaKinsey Jones while Valeria Ortiz notched her side’s first ace. Arroyave came up with her own perfect serve before three straight attack errors from the 49ers gave the ‘Runners the edge at 22-19. Despite posting just eight digs and 11 kills on a .139 hitting percentage, UTSA prevailed 25-23 on a set-clinching lift call.
SECOND SET
A Ledisi Kpea kill secured the set’s eighth tie at just 10-10 before a small Charlotte spurt made it 15-12 at the media stoppage. Sydney Bryant heated up with a pair of terminations before Caroline Tredwell and Arroyave teamed up for blocks on back-to-back rallies, drawing even at 20 all. However, UTSA’s only point in the final six rallies came courtesy of a service error, handing Charlotte its first set victory since Sept. 19 by a 25-21 margin.
THIRD SET
After neither side created early separation, Tredwell and Bryant combined for a rejection to spark a 4-0 run that put the Roadrunners up 10-7. Arroyave’s fourth kill of the stanza then built the largest margin of the set at 17-12 before Charlotte clawed back in the fight. Deadlocked at 19 all, Caroline Tredwell pushed the Navy & Orange back in front with three straight kills. Arroyave then wrapped up a dominant, six-kill set with two more blows, including the final swing courtesy of Valeria Ortiz at 25-20.
FOURTH SET
An early blitz from the 49ers saw them swarm ahead 7-3 before Tredwell’s kill and block on consecutive rallies saw the two sides draw even at 8-8. The home offense then found its rhythm to take a three-point edge into the technical timeout. Arroyave then took to the service line, where she commanded a run that saw the ‘Runners pull back in front for good. The Colombian landed an ace and a kill before Ally Tribe partnered with Ledisi Kpea for two straight blocks as a 6-0 push flipped the script to the tune of 18-15. Bryant found another gear as she found the floor three more times before Charlotte ended the affair with a long attack at 25-19.
NUMBERS OF NOTE
- Isabella Arroyave set a new career single-match high with 16 kills in the win, hitting .400 while adding eight digs, two blocks and two aces.
- The junior paced her squad in kills for the third time this season.
- Arroyave entered double-digit territory in kills for the sixth straight match, notching at least eight digs in each outing.
- Sydney Bryant was the other Roadrunner to surpass 10 kills, tallying 15 to go with a trio of blocks.
- Valeria Ortiz paced UTSA with 23 assists in the win, narrowly missing out on a double-double with nine digs.
- Ledisi Kpea and Caroline Tredwell led the way at the net with four blocks apiece.
- Alyssa Manitzas posted a team-best 12 digs, recording her seventh outing with at least 10 this fall.
- UTSA notched its ninth match with at least eight blocks on the season, combining for nine against Charlotte.
- The ‘Runners improved to 5-1 when leading after three sets this season.
- The second set defeat was just UTSA’s third this season and its first since Sept. 3 against UIW, snapping a nine-match streak of victories in the second frame.
- The win vaulted UTSA to 3-2 in navy jerseys on the campaign.
UP NEXT
On Sunday, UTSA treks 218 miles towards the coast for a 1 p.m. matchup with East Carolina (10-5, 3-0 AMER). The Pirates look to remain undefeated in league play while the ‘Runners hope to snap ECU’s four-match winning streak. All the action from Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum will be streamed live on ESPN+ and available to follow via utsa.statbroadcast.com.
For complete coverage of UTSA Volleyball during the 2026 season, visit goutsa.com. On social media, follow the Roadrunners on Twitter/X (@UTSAvolleyball), Instagram (utsa_vb) and Facebook (UTSA Volleyball).
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