SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA volleyball team returns to action tomorrow, Nov. 4, in a road contest against UAB who currently sits fifth in the conference. First serve is set for 7 p.m. and the match is being streamed on CUSA.tv.
The Roadrunners (7-16, 2-9) are looking to make some late-season noise as with three games remaining, they have a chance to earn a spot in the Conference USA Tournament. UAB (11-12, 6-5) on the other hand will secure a spot in the postseason with a win.
The two teams will be meeting for the first time this season as their last matchup came in 2021 when UAB came to San Antonio and defeated UTSA 3-1.
Leading the Roadrunners
The Roadrunners are led offensively by Rutgers transfer Cansu Günaydin who leads the team in both points (277) and kills (246) while being second on the team in aces (19). Günaydin has also tallied 170 digs, the second most on the team, and has 21 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 88 sets on the season. Among those two is junior middle blocker Alicia Coppedge. Coppedge boasts 208.5 points on 166 kills as she sits second on the team in each category. On the defensive side of the net Coppedge leads all Roadrunners with 79 total blocks (six solo) and has 13 digs.
The other Roadrunner mainstay is true freshman defensive specialist Ava Camacho. Camacho leads the team with 381 digs, the fourth 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 13 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 590 assists on the season. Her 590 assists are the ninth most in the conference and Walters holds the second-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 155 points with 136 kills. Her 2.03 kills per set are the third most on the team and are just behind freshman Katelyn Krienke who averages 2.04 per set. Krienke has tallied 170.5 points and also has 149 kills to date.
Scouting UAB
UAB is led offensively by a trio of outside hitters who have each poured in over 270 kills on the season. Leading the team in kills is Fernanda Maida (329) who is followed by Alex Kells (281) and Maia Rackel (274). Maida has the fourth most kills amongst all C-USA players.
Blazer setter Lidya Canturk has totaled 785 assists, the fourth-most in C-USA, and is averaging 9.94 assists per set. Canturk is also second on the team in aces, tallying 25 to date.
Kells (250) and Rackel (209) lead the Blazers in digs, proving that they're more than just an offensive threat. Also on the defensive side of the net, Blazer middle blocker Chloe Rodriguez leads the squad in total blocks, having notched 73 on the year.
Series history
UTSA and UAB will meet for the 17th time in program history this Friday night. The Roadrunners have been dominant in this series, holding a 13-3 advantage over the Blazers in a series that dates back to 1994. UTSA has won eight of the last ten matchups between the two C-USA schools. The Roadrunners are 5-2 against UAB in matches played in Birmingham.
Up next
UTSA will have about a week off before it's back in action next Thursday night against UTEP. Next Thursday's match is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and will be scheduled on both CUSA.tv and Stadium Plus. The match is also senior night as the Roadrunners are set to honor three of their own, Courtney Walters, Hunter Coppola and Mia Ybarra.
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