UTSA lost 3-2 to the University of Alabama on Friday night in the Convocation Center. The Crimson Tide (7-1) served as the ‘Runners (4-5) second opponent in the Roadrunner Classic.
The two schools last met in 2022 when Alabama hosted UTSA in Tuscaloosa for the Crimson Tide Invitational, which resulted in a 3-0 loss for the Roadrunners. This time around, the ‘Runners lost in five sets to (27-25, 26-24, 25-22, 25-22, 15-12).
From the moment the Roadrunners tied up with Alabama at 8-8 in the second set, the two teams were neck-and-neck. Alabama senior libero Natalie Repetti, a top server coming into this match with 11 aces in her 2024 season, served the ball straight into the net.
AAC Freshman of the Week and outside hitter, Martina Franco, served the final ball of the evening. After making its way through Crimson Tide’s lineup, the ball made its way to the net but was ultimately blocked by junior opposite hitter Mia Soerensen. An Alabama error made following Soerensen’s block ended the set.
The second set was an aggressive battle on both sides of the court. The two teams accumulated a total of 33 kills. This was also the first set the Roadrunners ever won over their two-time SEC opponent.
Despite taking the third set, the Roadrunners began to lose their stride during the fourth set and lost by three points. For the second time this season, UTSA had to face off its opponent in a fifth set play. Last Friday, the ‘Runners lost to University of Incarnate Word by two points during their fifth set.
The final set of the evening saw Alabama reach the halfway mark first, scoring eight points versus UTSA’s five points. The Roadrunners fought to tie up the score at 9-9 and continued to put in the work from there, but ultimately fell to two kills made by Crimson Tide.
The ‘Runners and Crimson Tide both came into the match with a previous win in the Roadrunner Classic. UTSA routed Central Arkansas in three sets and Alabama beat Sam Houston in four sets.
“Really proud of the girls,” coach Carol Price-Torok said about how the team performed against an SEC team. “We’re getting ourself ready for conference and I sure do wish we could have won this but we’re going to play teams like that in conference every single week and we just want to get ourselves ready for when it counts.”
UTSA will continue play in the Roadrunner Classic against Sam Houston at 2 p.m. Saturday at Convocation Center.
