UTSA Wins Southland Volleyball Tournament Championship
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HUNTSVILLE, Texas - In a hard fought five-set match between the top two seeds in the tournament, the No. 2 seed UTSA upset the No. 1 seed Central Arkansas (25-17, 25-22, 19-25, 21-25, 15-13) at the Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament Championship in Huntsville, Texas.
With the win UTSA advances to its second NCAA tournament appearance in school history. The Roadrunners won the conference tournament in the 2000 season.
UTSA played the role of giant killer for the second time this season handing UCA just its second loss to a Southland team in the last two years.
Three Roadrunners were named to the all-tournament team led by MVP selection, senior outside hitter Kendra Rowland. Sophomore setter Kelsey Schwirtlich and sophomore outside hitter Whitney Walls were also named to the all-tournament team.
Rowland, a first-team all-conference selection, led UTSA with 51 kills and had 50 digs and five blocks including four solo. Rowland joins former UTSA standout Tamara Luckenmeyer (2000) as the only Roadrunners to be named tournament MVP. Schwirtlich, also a first-team member, led all-tournament players with 142 assists. Walls was second on the team in kills with 42 and had five assists, four digs and five blocks.
Central Arkansas senior outside hitter Chloe Smith and freshman setter Marissa Collins were named to the all-tournament team for their efforts. Smith, the Southland player of the year, had 45 kills, 32 digs and 11 blocks. Collins, the conference freshman and setter of the year, had 128 assists, 14 digs and four blocks.
Fox College Sports Central will air a replay of the volleyball tournament championship match Monday at 11 a.m., CST, and again on Tuesday at 9 p.m., CST.
The NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Selection Show will air Sunday, November 28 between 3 and 3:30 p.m. (ET) on ESPNews.
All-Tournament Team
Kendra Rowland, UTSA (MVP)
Kelsey Schwirtlich, UTSA
Whitney Walls, UTSA
Chloe Smith, Central Arkansas
Marissa Collins, Central Arkansas
Jayme Bazile, Lamar
Quotes:
UTSA Coach Laura Neugebauer-Groff
"I've wanted this to happen for so long. It's a dream come true. It was a tough match to win. Central Arkansas is a very good team, but I'm proud of our team for coming back."
Tournamnet MVP - UTSA Senior Kendra Rowland
"I've been waiting for this for four years. It's a phenomenal feeling. All the hard work we've put in this season has paid off."
Central Arkansas Coach Steven McRoberts
"Our seniorsdidn’t end their careers the way I thought they would, but they have left alegacy and a very high standard for the players that follow them. We learned alot this year and we have a majority of our team back so we expect to get a chanceat this thing next year when we host it. I would like to thank everyone thathas helped and supported our team. It was a great run."