UTSA volleyball’s 2024 campaign has officially come to a close, finishing the season on a three-game win streak. The Roadrunners did not make it to the American Athletic Conference tournament, ending No.12 overall in conference standings. UTSA excelled defensively but struggled with completing plays.
The team spent their last weekend winning its first away games of the season; the ‘Runners finished the season 2-8 in road games. While they had better luck at home (7-8), they were overall negative at the end of the season (11-18). The team was 5-11 in conference games.
“I think the brand of volleyball we are putting out is exciting,” coach Carol Price-Torok said.
UTSA opened up its conference play with an eight-game losing streak. The team had trouble connecting plays and finishing out sets. The Roadrunners averaged 1.381 errors per set, with 145 errors throughout the season. In their first game against the University of Tulsa, they racked up 30 attack errors and seven service errors. However, the ‘Runners were a strong wall at the net throughout the season, finishing first in blocks with an average 2.36 per set and a total of 247.5. The team grinded throughout the season to try and improve their play.
“We have been preaching that all year; just stay the course, trust each other and believe,” Price-Torok said.
The ‘Runners picked up five wins toward the end of the season, the most notable being their 3-0 sweep against Florida Atlantic University in the team’s final home game of the season, along with their 3-2 win against the University of South Florida in a tough five set match. The Roadrunners set their school record for single blocks in a game with 23 against the Bulls. During this game, senior middle blocker Alicia Coppedge broke the school record for single blocks with 13 in the game.
Shutting their opponents down was the ‘Runners’ forte as they had three players rank in the AAC for blocking. Coppedge ranked third with an average of 1.17 per set. Sophomore middle blocker Kai Bailey ranked fifth in blocking with an average 1.12 per set and finished No.10 in hitting percentage at .302; Bailey was also named AAC defensive player of the week. Junior opposite hitter Mia Soerensen was eighth with an average of 1.04 per set and earned AAC Second Team All-Conference honors. Sophomore setter Annika Sokol was No.10 in assists and was also named AAC setter of the week.
“We want to work hard; we want to show up every single day,” Price-Torok said. “We want to find a way to win.”
UTSA volleyball is letting go of two seniors,Coppedge and outside hitter Faye Wilbricht as the team transitions to the offseason in preparation for a fresh start in 2025.
