UTSA Clips Texas State Volleyball

Porter registers monster double-double; Roadrunners earn season split with TXST.

WACO, Texas – The Texas State volleyball team fell 3-2 (22-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-19, 15-13) to UTSA on the second day of the Jason’s Deli Baylor Classic Saturday afternoon inside Ferrell Center.

The Bobcats (8-5) suffered their second loss in the tournament, while the Roadrunners (2-8) were able to draw even for the season series.

True freshman Brooke Johnson (22 assists, 14 digs) joined sophomores Megan Porter (19 kills, 19 digs) and Amy Pflughaupt (11 digs, 10 kills) with double-doubles. Junior Madison Daigle tallied 11 kills and seven blocks, while senior Jaliyah Bolden added 12 kills. Classmate Erin Hoppe had 26 assists, and sophomore Micah Dinwiddie posted a season-best 28 digs.

The first set was nip-and-tuck throughout, with the two clubs landing even at 10-10 and 15-15. UTSA inched ahead 20-17 and stayed on top 22-19, but the maroon and gold won the last six points to snatch the opener.

The second period leaned slightly toward UTSA, who was able to take advantage of three set points and level proceedings 25-23. The Roadrunners turned an 11-11 draw into an 18-13 advantage, and they later fended off a late Bobcat rally to win the frame by two.

TXST looked to be on cruise control in the third after racing out to leads of 10-4 and 14-6, but UTSA ventured on a 13-5 run to equalize at 19-19. The two teams played level for the next eight points before the Bobcats creeped ahead 24-22. The Roadrunners won the next rally, but the set went to Texas State following an attack error.

The Roadrunners sent the frame into a fifth set by winning the fourth 25-19. They scored six-straight points midway through the period to seize control at 18-11, and that would be enough to stay on top for the six-point win.

UTSA earned the first momentum swing of the final set by flipping a 4-2 disadvantage into an 11-5 lead. Texas State clawed back to within one at 14-13, but the deficit proved to be too much as the Roadrunners were able to secure the triumph.

Brianna McCulloch and Kara Teal both registered 16 kills for the Roadrunners. McCulloch also added 19 digs. Marijeta Runjic added 14 kills, and Amanda Gonzales had a double-double with 51 assists and 16 digs. Emily Ramirez led UTSA with 24 digs.

UTSA led the match in attack percentage (.190-.138), aces (8-6) and blocks (13-10). Texas State led in digs (101-85), and the two sides both had 61 kills and 56 assists.

The maroon and gold took a short break before facing St. John’s at 5 p.m. The match was the final for TXST in the Baylor Classic and was the first in school history against the Red Storm.