Tulsa Falls in Three-Set Sweep to UTSA in Series Finale

Saturday, November 4

San Antonio, Texas

2:00 p.m.

Tulsa

13-14,6-9AAC

UTSA

15-11,8-7AAC

Tulsa

UTSA

Photo by: Dave Crenshaw

Tulsa Falls in Three-Set Sweep to UTSA in Series Finale

11/4/2023 5:36:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

BOX SCORE (PDF) | SEASON STATS

SAN ANTONIO, Texas. — The Tulsa volleyball team fought hard in the series finale with UTSA Saturday but fell 3-0 (22-25, 22-25, 20-25), dropping each set by no more than five points. The Golden Hurricane falls to 13-14 overall and 6-9 in American Athletic Conference play, while the Roadrunners improve to 15-11 and 8-7 in league action.

Hitting efficiency was a key factor in Saturday's match. Tulsa recorded ten more attacks (142) than UTSA but connected for nine fewer kills (41) to garner a .176 hitting percentage while the Roadrunners picked up a .265 clip.

Senior setter Avery Kalsu had a strong performance for Tulsa with 37 total assists on the day. She averaged 12.33 assists per set in setting up five different Hurricane attackers. On defense, Kalsu added 13 digs to earn her 12^th double-double of the season.

Kayley Cassaday benefitted the most from Kalsu's performance as the graduate hitter landed 18 kills at a rate of six kills per set. She finished the day with a .341 attack average. Sophomore middle blocker Arianna Mongare and sophomore outside hitter Beth Bayless each produced eight kills to go with six kills from senior middle blocker Regan Pendleton.

Leading the defense was junior libero Marta Pecalli, who dug out 18 UTSA attacks at six digs per set.

Tulsa will return to the Donald W. Reynolds Center next week to host Memphis (8-19, 4-11 AAC) on Friday, Nov. 10, at 6:30 p.m.

Game Notes
» Avery Kalsu (37 assists/13 digs) recorded her 12^th double-double of the season.
» Kayley Cassaday led the court with 18 kills.
» For the first time this season, Beth Bayless led the TU blockers with three blocks, all assists.
» Camryn Lingenbrink set a career-high in digs (4).

How It Happened

SET 1 | Tulsa found itself in a hole early, down 8-3 to open the first set. The Hurricane slowly erased the deficit and knotted up the set at 18-18. UTSA broke the deadlock at 20-20 and cruised from there to take the first set 25-22. Avery Kalsu had 12 assists in the set.

SET 2 | Set two featured 11 tie scores with only one lead change. The Hurricane jumped out to a 12-7 lead and held the advantage until UTSA came back to knot it up at 18 points apiece. From there, neither team would lead by more than three. The Roadrunners used a 5-1 scoring run to take their first lead of the set at 23-22 and finish out the set on top 25-22 to go up 2-0 on the Hurricane.

SET 3 | Tulsa and UTSA battled through seven tie scores and two lead changes in the first 30 rallies of the third and final set of the match. The Roadrunners took control of the set at 15-14 and never looked back on the way to a 25-20 finish to seal the three-set sweep. Avery Kalsu had 12 assists and eight digs in the stanza.

Tulsa   22        22        20
UTSA   25        25        25