UTSA volleyball beat University of Alabama at Birmingham 3-0 on Friday afternoon at the Convocation Center.
The Roadrunners (7-13, 1-6 AAC) beat the Blazers (7-11, 2-5 AAC). Before this game, the ‘Runners were on an eight game losing streak and had not yet won a conference game. The Roadrunners saw contributions from most of the team throughout the game, utilizing their roster to its full potential.
“Trusting the training that they are putting in,” coach Carol Price-Torok said about using more of her players. “Everyday get better, everyday come in, trust what we are doing, it’s gonna pay off. I think you are seeing it pay off with the game experience they’re getting. Their confidence is building and they are finding their voices of who they are;, that is what we need them to do.”
UTSA took a quick lead at the start of the second set.. In a long rally, junior outside hitter Caroline Krueger served, UAB received the ball and opposing hitter Jorda Crook went for the attack. Sophomore libero Peyton Turner stuck her hands out in just enough time to get a pancake, saving the ball.
Freshman outside hitter Ally Tribe picked the ball up and Krueger sent the ball over the net. The Blazers picked the ball back up and attacked UTSA. With a one handed save from Tribe, the ball was sent flying back over the net, thenwhen UAB attacked again. Turner dug the ball up and sent it to freshman setter Morgen Durgens. She jumped and set the ball to senior middle blocker Alicia Coppedge, who .
Coppedge jumped and hit the ball into the middle of the court. The Blazers reached for the ball but watched it drop to the floor., UTSA won the set 25-21.
The ‘Runners won set three 25-19, securing their first conference win of the season.
“It feels so good;, we have been working so hard,” Turner said. “It’s just really rewarding to see that what we are doing in the gym for practice during the week is gonna pay off.”
UAB’s middle blocker Madison Page was first in blocks in the American Athletic Conference;, after the game, she dropped to third. UTSA’s sophomore middle blocker Kai Bailey is third in hitting percentage and fifth in blocks in the AAC.
“I feel good,” Bailey said. “I think I’m just like, ‘swing until you miss, swing until you get blocked, just keep swinging.’ I feel like that’s my mentality for this season.”
Bailey led UTSA with 12 kills, while Tribe had 10 and junior outside hitter Mia Soerensen had nine. Turner had 15 digs, whereas freshman defensive specialist Bailey Lechler and Durgens had seven.
UTSA will play University of Tulsa at 12 p.m. Sunday at the Convocation Center.
