UTSA Volleyball Team Looks To Continue 10-match Winning Streak on Thursday
Roadrunners look to extend 10-match winning streak on Thursday
SAN ANTONIO — The UTSA volleyball team will put the nation's 11th-longest active winning streak on the line when it hosts Sam Houston State at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday night at the Convocation Center. The Roadrunners then will play its final home match of the year two days later when Stephen F. Austin visits the Alamo City for a 1 p.m. contest.
UTSA (17-9, 11-1 SLC) is riding a 10-match win streak with its last loss coming more than a month ago (Sept. 25). The Roadrunners put an end to Central Arkansas' 33-match Southland Conference winning streak with a four-set victory on Saturday. Two players reached career milestones iast week as senior Kendra Rowland surpassed 1,500 kills and 1,300 digs, while junior Kelsey Jewasko moved past 1,500 digs.
Rowland paces the UTSA offense with 299 winners (2.99 kps), while sophomore southpaw Whitney Walls follows with 250 kills (2.53 kps). Redshirt sophomore Kelsey Schwirtlich has guided the Birds' offense by averaging 9.68 helpers per frame.
Jewasko anchors the defense with 547 digs (5.36 dps), while senior Briana Mason and sophomore Brittney Malloy both lead the squad at the net by blocking 1.03 attacks per frame. The Roadrunners have limited opposing teams to a .171 hitting percentage, which is the third-best mark in the conference.
Sam Houston State (12-15, 6-6 SLC) comes into Thursday's contest having won six of its last 10 outings. The Bearkats split a pair of league matches last week, including a four-set victory against Texas State. Sam Houston State dropped its last outing to UT Arlington in four stanzas. Junior Carli Kolbe ranks third in the conference in kills per set (3.49) and leads the Bearkats with 342 winners.
The Bearkats hold a 27-21 edge in the all-time series. UTSA swept Sam Houston State on Oct. 2 en route to picking up its first win in Hunstville in nearly six years (Oct. 15, 2004). The Roadrunners are 11-9 all-time in matches against the Bearkats played in San Antonio.
Stephen F. Austin (11-16, 4-8 SLC) has dropped three consecutive matches, including a sweep at the hands of Texas State on Saturday. Junior Mary Caitlin Bottles is attacking at a .271 clip on on the strength of 301 winners, while sophomore Madison Hanlan ranks fourth in the circuit with 4.52 digs per frame.
The Birds snapped a decade-long losing streak in Nacogdoches after disposing of the Ladyjacks in four frames on Sept. 30. Stephen F. Austin still holds a 32-10 advantage in the all-time series, including a 14-5 record in matches played in San Antonio.
UTSA will honor its four seniors — Mason, Evelyn Pineda, Rowland and Megan Schauffele — prior Saturday's match.
