'Runners fall to Bobcats as 1,246 fans pack the Convocation Center'Runners fall to Bobcats as 1,246 fans pack the Convocation Center
Volleyball

'Runners fall to Bobcats as 1,246 fans pack the Convocation Center

UTSA recorded its highest home attendance mark since the 2017 season

SAN ANTONIO – 1,246 fans filled the Convocation Center on Wednesday as the UTSA Volleyball team suffered a 26-24, 19-25, 25-23, 25-16 defeat at the hands of Texas State in the I-35 Showdown. The attendance figure represents the most in the Carol Price-Torok era and the largest overall crowd since a 2017 contest against Texas that featured 2,711 spectators.

The Roadrunners (1-3, 0-0 The American) couldn't overcome the Bobcats (3-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) despite a match-high 16 kills from junior Mia Soerensen and a double-double by freshman Martina Franco. Soerensen also boasted five blocks, tying redshirt senior Alicia Coppedge for the team lead.

UTSA took an early lead as a Soerensen kill capped off a four-point swing that handed the 'Runners a 6-3 advantage. UTSA kept the Bobcats at bay for the majority of the set as separate spurts allowed a sophomore Caroline Krueger ace to deliver a 21-14 lead. A Franco termination then put UTSA up 24-16, but Texas State persevered, scoring the next 10 for a 26-24 victory.

The 'Runners got off on the front foot in the second set, as a kill for Coppedge kick-started a seven-point surge that resulted in an 8-1 lead. Back-to-back sophomore Makenna Wiepert aces shortly after increased the UTSA edge to nine, and a Soerensen kill saw a 20-10 score line. The Bobcats again threatened a comeback, but this time the 'Runners found the put-away point, securing a 25-19 win.

A senior Faye Wilbricht termination helped UTSA take a 7-2 advantage in the third, but Texas State again battled back, eventually knotting the contest at 16. A back-and-forth battle ensued, as a Coppedge kill saw a 23-23 score before the Bobcats strung together consecutive points to extinguish the set.

In the fourth, TXST stepped on the gas, growing a 19-9 lead before claiming the final set, 25-16.

The 'Runners will now host the 2024 UTSA Invitational as they welcome Holy Cross, Abilene Christian, and UIW into the Convocation Center in a tournament spanning Friday and Saturday.

 Keep up with UTSA Volleyball on goutsa.com, and by following the program on Facebook at /UTSAVBall, Twitter @UTSAVolleyball, and on Instagram @utsa_vb.

-UTSA-