The UTSA Roadrunners (17-6) swept Florida Atlantic (13-12, C-USA 7-2 C-USA) 25-15, 27-25 and 25-7 in the first time the Runners held an opponent to single digits in a set.
The Roadrunners were in complete control in the first set. Laced with errors, FAU fell behind fast. An unbreakable spike by UTSA’s Kasey Keifer pressed the lead to 19-10, and a back pass to a Megan Slan spike pushed the lead to double digits. UTSA didn’t look back and won the first set 25-15 after a serving error by FAU.
The second set was hard-fought with both teams neck-and-neck. Florida caught fire toward the middle of the set, scoring six consecutive points to bring the score to 21-15. UTSA pecked their way back within one 21-22 until FAU started pulling away for the set win. Yet, UTSA refused to give up as the comeback was completed with a FAU error making it 27-25 in the Roadrunners’ favor.
“I think we let up just a tiny bit,” stated senior outside hitter Kacey Keifer. “We came out in the first set so strong. When we’re down a lot we just try to come together and take it one point at a time.”
“In set two, we weren’t serving as tough,” stated Head Coach Laura Neugebauer-Groff. “We missed six serves. We wanted no more missed serves.”
UTSA came out habanero-hot in set three, scoring the first eight points of the set, and ended the set on a total 25-7 run.
“They have a lot of weapons and we just totally took them out of their offense,” stated coach Groff. “Right now we just want to be consistent as we get ready for the playoffs.”
“We came in confident,” Keifer stated. “We knew we wanted to take it to them. We had all the energy in the world, and if we just play the game the way we know how, then they didn’t have a chance.”
After winning three sets to two against Florida International on Nov. 6, the Runners will hit the road to wrap up conference play against Charlotte on Nov. 10 and Rice on Nov. 12.