SAN ANTONIO – The UTSA Roadrunner volleyball team will suit up for its final regular season action tomorrow, Nov. 12, on the road against Louisiana Tech. First serve is scheduled for one and the match will be streamed on CUSA.tv.
The Roadrunners (7-18, 2-11) are looking to avenge an early season loss to the Lady Techsters by returning the favor on La Tech's home court. Louisiana Tech (11-17, 4-9) is looking to solidify its spot in the Conference USA Tournament as a win guarantees a Lady Techster appearance.
The two teams will be meeting for the second time this season as their last matchup came on Oct. 2 when Louisiana Tech came to San Antonio and defeated UTSA 3-0.
Leading the Roadrunners
The Roadrunners are led offensively by junior Rutgers transfer Cansu Günaydin who leads the team in both points (296.5) and kills (264) while being second on the team in aces (19). Günaydin has also tallied 181 digs, the second most on the team, and has 23 total blocks. She has appeared in all but one set on the season for the Roadrunners and has been the go-to offensive threat.
Just one Roadrunner has appeared in all 95 sets this season. Freshman Ava Camacho has not only played in every set, but also leads the team with 414 digs, the fifth most in the conference, and has tallied the most digs amongst any C-USA player in a five-set match (40) and a four-set match (31). Camacho was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 3. Camacho also has 13 aces on the season, the third most by any UTSA player.
Junior middle blocker Alicia Coppedge has appeared in 88 sets on the season. Coppedge boasts 208.5 points on 166 kills as she sits second on the team in each category. On the defensive side of the net Coppedge leads all Roadrunners with 79 total blocks (six solo) and has 13 digs.
Senior setter Courtney Walters continues to set up her teammates, as the McKinney, Texas native has 594 assists on the season. Her 594 assists are the ninth most in the conference and Walters holds the second-most assists in a match by any C-USA player this season as she tallied 60 against McNeese earlier in the year. Sophomore setter Mekaila Aupiu makes up the second piece of the setting tandem as the Spring, Texas native has 287 assists on the season.
Junior outside hitter Kelsey Carpenter is one of six Roadrunners who have over 100 points and 100 kills as the Midlothian, Texas native has 161.5 points with 142 kills. Her 1.95 kills per set are the third most on the team and are just ahead of senior Hunter Coppola who has come on late and averages 1.94 per set. Freshman Katelyn Krienke averages 1.96 kills per set, the second most on the team, has tallied 184 points and also has 158 kills to date.
Scouting Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Tech is led offensively by Andrea Spasojevic, an outside hitter out of Serbia who has a team-high 243 kills and averages just over three kills per set. Flanking Spasojevic are fellow outside hitters Sydney Jackwin and Chard'e Vanzandt who each have 180 kills on the season.
La Tech has a pair of setters who've combined for over 800 assists on the year. Redshirt freshman Ashley Jones has totaled 496 assists and averages 6.44 assists per set while senior Kalee Cadwell has 330 assists. McKenzie Johnson (37) and Spasojevic (33) lead the team in service aces.
On the defensive side of the net, both Johnson and Spasojevic have over 240 digs to date while junior middle blocker Morgan Smith leads the team in blocks with 69.
Series history
UTSA is 15-3 all-time in meetings against the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters. In matches played in Ruston, La., UTSA is 7-2 overall. The two squads are meeting for the second time this season, with the previous meeting coming on Oct. 2. The early Conference USA match saw Louisiana Tech oust the Roadrunners 3-0.
Up next
UTSA's season will conclude after facing Louisiana Tech on Saturday and the Roadrunner volleyball team will be back in action for the 2024 season.
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