SAN ANTONIO — The UTSA volleyball team is set to battle South Florida at 6 p.m. on Friday in a Barbie-themed Pink Out for breast cancer awareness match, ahead of a 1 p.m. contest with Temple on Sunday that will feature a postgame autograph session.
As a part of Friday's festivities, the first 100 fans in attendance and wearing pink will receive a free, limited-edition pink UTSA shirt. Those interested in attending Sunday's match can take advantage of a special flash sale beginning on Friday at 8 a.m., which will see $8 general admission tickets until 11:59 p.m. Discounted tickets can be purchased at the following link: www.goutsa.com/flashsale.
The Roadrunners (8-8, 1-4 AAC) fell twice to No. RV Rice last time out and are looking to halt a four-match skid.
Sophomore Mia Soerensen was the Roadrunner's top attacker across the matches, posting eight kills before delivering 11 terminations in the second match. Additionally, Soerensen hit .218 while averaging 3.17 kills per set.
Despite appearing in just one contest, freshman Miranda Putnicki issued a strong showing as UTSA's top blocker, logging five and averaging 1.67 blocks per set.
Meanwhile, the Bulls (10-6, 4-1 AAC) earned a pair of sweeps over UAB to pick up their fourth American Athletic Conference victory of the season after besting Memphis and Tulane previously.
Buse Hazan carries a slew of momentum into this week's match, serving as the reining AAC Offensive Player of the Week, thanks to 6.5 points per set and a .393 hitting percentage. Raegan Kinard joined Hazan in receiving recognition, as she was named to the conference's weekly honor roll after recording 1.67 blocks per set.
USF leads the league in aces per set at 1.92, a figure heavily aided by Marta Cvitkovic, who sits 16th nationally at 0.55. Hazan has also logged most of the team's aces, totaling 24 for an average of 0.41 per set.
The squad also boasts one of the most efficient offenses in the AAC, with a hitting percentage of .229, slotting them fourth. Hazan has also played a significant attacking role, leading the Bulls to the third-most points in the conference with 240. She's delivered 3.50 kills per set at a .232 clip, while Maria Clara Andrade and Amanda DeWitt have each eclipsed the 100-kill threshold on the year.
Caroline Dykes tops the team in both assists with 467 and digs with 152, while Lauren Lewis boasts the most blocks with 34.
The Owls (11-4, 2-2 AAC) enter the weekend following a five-set victory over Tulane and will first face Wichita State on Friday before battling the Roadrunners on Sunday.
Taylor Davenport has been one of the league's top attackers thus far, ranking second in kills and averaging 4.71 per set. She also serves as the Owls ace leader with 22 through 15 matches, helping the team to the second-most aces per set in the AAC behind USF.
The bulk of Davenport's termination have come from three different setters, as Patrycja Zielinska, Ava Blascziek, and Lexi Yoza have all recorded over 100 assists, with Zielinska leading the pack at 261. Samantha Jo Mikosy and Chelci Banks have been stellar on defense, as Mikosy has blocked 44 of the opposition's attacks and Banks 41. Additionally, Nalani McBride leads the team in digs at 146, with Jelena Prolic not far behind at 120.
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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