BOCA RATON, Fla. — The UTSA volleyball program dominated across a 25-22, 25-23, 25-14 sweep over Florida Atlantic at Baldwin Arena on Friday, securing their fifth consecutive American Athletic Conference victory. Additionally, the streak represents the longest in-conference surge since the 2018 squad strung together six straight en route to an 11-3 Conference-USA record.
The Roadrunners (13-11, 6-7 AAC) bested the Owls (14-11, 6-6 AAC) and improved to 10-0 all-time against FAU. UTSA was firing on all cylinders in the victory, holding the opposition to a .073 hitting percentage with 15 total blocks and 44 digs.
Junior Mekaila Aupiu stuffed the stats sheet, leading the contest with 31 assists while collecting six blocks and five digs. Nobody recorded more blocks than senior Alicia Coppedge, who totaled eight, while sophomore Mia Soerensen tied Aupiu for the second-most with six. Also aiding in the defensive effort, senior Aliah Giroux boasted 13 digs and junior Ellie Turner 10.
Offensively, Coppedge was the ‘Runners top weapon with eight kills at a .615 clip as Soerensen, senior Cansu Günaydin, and sophomore Caroline Krueger all launched seven successful attacks.
FAU took a 6-3 lead to open the first frame, but the Roadrunners quickly responded, rattling off six straight as Aupiu and Coppedge combined for a block to work a 9-6 advantage. The Owls kept it close before a Günaydin ace capped off a five-point surge for an 18-11 score line. As UTSA looked to close out the set, FAU remained in the fight before an Owl miscue handed the Roadrunners a 25-22 win.
Neither squad could gain an inch to open the second stanza until a flurry of kills by Aupiu, Coppedge, and Krueger saw UTSA take a 17-14 lead. An ace for freshman Makenna Wiepert allowed the Roadrunners to win the race to 20, with UTSA owning a two-score edge. The squads then exchanged blows until a Coppedge kill cemented a 25-23 victory for the ‘Runners.
In a stretch that saw a trio of Krueger aces, five consecutive UTSA points allowed the Roadrunners to take a 10-6 lead in the final frame. The onslaught continued, with multiple UTSA spurts seeing the squad take a 22-12 advantage on an Aupiu/Coppedge block. The duo combined for another stuff before Krueger concluded the match with a final termination resulting in a 25-14 win.
UTSA will be back in action on Friday, as they return to the Convocation Center to host Tulsa in a Dia de los Muertos celebration at 6 p.m. before meeting the Golden Hurricane once more on Saturday with a 2 p.m. first serve on Senior Day.
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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