SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA volleyball team survived a five-set thriller against Sam Houston (25-20, 25-22, 22-25, 21-25, 18-16) on Saturday in what represented the final match of the 2024 Roadrunner Classic in the Convocation Center.
The Roadrunners (5-5, 0-0 The American) bested the Bearkats (4-5, 0-0 CUSA), as freshman Ally Tribe paced the match with 22 kills, eight digs and five blocks. Not far behind, sophomore Kai Bailey launched 12 successful attacks with six blocks, and junior Mia Soerensen recorded nine terminations and seven blocks. Classmate Caroline Tredwell matched her kill total and had the second-most digs in the contest with 17. Additionally, sophomore Annika Sokol recorded a double-double to the tune of 36 assists and 13 digs, while senior Aliah Giroux scooped 21 of the opposition's attacks.
UTSA used a four-point run to take a 10-7 edge early in the first set, ahead of another rally that allowed a solo Soerensen block to work a 15-10 advantage. The 'Runners kept the opposition at arms-length with a freshman Caroline Tredwell termination handing them set point and a Bearkat miscue that prompted a 25-20 Roadrunner win.
In the second, SHSU jumped out to a 6-2 lead, but the Roadrunners raced back, stringing together five straight as back-to-back Tribe kills handed UTSA a 9-7 lead. The Bearkats promptly evened things up before UTSA regained a threescore advantage on a senior Faye Wilbricht kill, a Sokol ace, and a successful Tribe attack. SHSU again answered, issuing a 20-20 tie. The 'Runners, however, persevered, scoring in five of the subsequent seven rallies, allowing a Soerensen kill to secure a 25-22 victory.
The Bearkats built a four-point advantage following a back-and-forth start to the third. The 'Runners swiftly responded as multiple kills and an ace for Tribe helped tie the stanza at 18 and force an SHSU timeout. The Bearkats came out of the break firing, eventually winning the set 25-22.
SHSU got off on the front foot in the fourth, earning an 11-5 lead. UTSA clawed within three using multiple spurts to work a 15-12 score line. The Bearkats remained in the driver's seat, taking the frame 25-21 and forcing a deciding fifth set.
The Bearkats built an 8-5 advantage in the fifth before switching sides. Shortly after, the Roadrunners saw back-to-back kills by Bailey and Soerensen that pulled UTSA within one, inducing a SHSU timeout. A Krueger kill then resulted in a 12-12 score. An errant serve put the Bearkats back in front, but a well-placed dump by Sokol again evened things. After another successful SHSU attack, Krueger worked a kill, forcing a win-by-two scenario, and Sokol launched an ace for a 15-14 Roadrunner lead. SHSU picked up a pair of points, and the 'Runners responded with a Bailey kill and a Krueger ace. Bailey and Soerensen then combined for a block, ending the marathon and securing an 18-16 victory.
UTSA will now turn its attention toward the SFA Tournament, which will see the squad visit Shelton Gym in Nacogdoches, Texas, to face McNeese, Stephen F. Austin, and Boise State across Friday and Saturday.
2024 Roadrunner Classic All-Tournament Team
MVP - Ellery Rees (Alabama)
Chaise Campbell (Alabama)
Kayla Keshock (Alabama)
Ally Tribe (UTSA)
Caroline Krueger (UTSA)
McKenzie Morvant (SHSU)
Alexis McDaniel (UCA)
Keep up with UTSA Volleyball on goutsa.com, and by following the program on Facebook at /UTSAVBall, Twitter @UTSAVolleyball, and on Instagram @utsa_vb.
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