UTSA lost to University of North Texas 3-1 on Friday night at the Convocation Center.
The Roadrunners (6-8, 0-1 AAC) and the Mean Green (4-8, 1-0 AAC) had their first match against each other in 2002; the ‘Runners lost the game 3-2. The last time the two universities faced off against each other was in 2023; UTSA won the match 3-2.
The Roadrunners went into this game coming off a loss against Boise State University the week before.
The first set started with a long rally where the ‘Runners took the first point. Neither team could get a lead; it was a back-and-forth set.
North Texas libero Paige Mooney was up to serve for the second time against UTSA. Senior libero Aliah Giroux received the ball, picked it up for sophomore setter Annika Sokol and Sokol reached up for the ball and set it. The Roadrunners geared up for a fake-out. Freshman outside hitter Ally Tribe ran up from the left, while sophomore middle blocker Kai Bailey ran up the middle and shouted “GO, GO, GO.”
Tribe jumped and brought her right arm back and made it look like she was going for a straight shot down the left. The Mean Green got ready and jumped to block her shot, but Tribe had other plans. She turned left and hit the ball to the left of the court. UNT players looked back as the ball hit the ground. UTSA used this momentum to win the set 25-22.
“It’s a huge momentum game,” coach Carol Price-Torok said. “As you see, one or two points one way gives you more confidence, a confidence boost. They did make some adjustments, I was proud of the adjustments we made.”
After losing set two and three, the Roadrunners looked to take back set four. The Mean Green got to set point but the ‘Runners were able to tie them. It was not enough, UTSA lost the set 26-24.
“Just trusting ourselves and going back to what we know,” junior outside hitter Caroline Krueger said. “When we take out time and are more organized, we are a really great team and when we start to lack communications that’s when we start to crumble. We can play with any team in the conference; we just need to be more organized.”
UTSA will play East Carolina University at 5 p.m. Friday at Williams Arena.
