UTSA volleyball was defeated by The University of Memphis 3-1 on Friday at the Convocation Center.
A strong Roadrunners (8-18, 2-11 AAC) defense racked up 66 digs and six team blocks. However the Tigers (12-14, 6-8 AAC) proved to be mightier, with 88 digs and 10 team blocks. UTSA lost the game in four sets 25-18, 25-20, 25-23, 25-20.
“Memphis had a great game plan, they got it done a little more defensively,” coach Carol Price-Torok said. “They just had a few plays that they finished a little bit better than us. I think they took more of the game a little bit more and that’s kinda where they edged us out.”
The first set was a back-and-forth contest, with short rallies. UTSA junior outside hitter Caroline Krueger served, and Memphis received the ball.Tigers’ libero Abigail Schlueter picked the ball up for outside hitter Tabytha Toelke. UTSA’s sophomore middle blockers Kai Bailey and Miranda Putnicki went for the block.
The ball went through the block to sophomore setter Annika Sokol, sophomore libero Peyton Turner set the ball for freshman outside hitter Ally Tribe. Memphis’ block touched the ball and the Tigers set middle blocker Clara Bednarek up for the attack. Bailey saw the attack, and went for the block. The ball bounced off the block and the Tigers watched as it hit the ground.
The second set was one for the taking for either team to gain a lead. Sokol was up to serve for the first time, Memphis received the ball and set Bednarek up for the attack. Sokol dug the ball up, Turner set the ball for junior opposite hitter Mia Soerensen.
Soerensen attacked, but the ball was dug up by the Tigers. Memphis’ Toelke went for the kill but UTSA caught the play. Soerensen and senior middle blocker Alicia Coppedge roofed the Tigers. Soerensen stuffed Memphis in the second set and got UTSA to set point 24-20.
The third set the ‘Runners’ struggle to close the point gap. The Tigers went on a 4-0 run and took a 20-14 lead.
The Roadrunners fell to long runs from Memphis during rallies in the fourth set.
“We’re used to those situations and I think just kinda looking towards each other and really embracing the moment when we do get those points,” Krueger said. “Take time especially in those long rallies when we’re losing our breath and piece it together, and take a break.”
Soerensen led the team with 17 kills, while Putnicki had 14 kills and Tribe had 10. UTSA gave away 11 service errors to Memphis’ four. Although, the Tigers had 26 attack errors and the ‘Runners had 24.
UTSA will play Florida Atlantic University at 12 p.m. Sunday at the Convocation Center.
