WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State volleyball rallied for a five-set victory over UTSA Friday night in Charles Koch Arena, earning a 3-2 win by scores of 25-22, 14-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-11.
The Shockers (5-14, 2-5 American) battled through a back-and-forth match, using a strong opening set and a decisive fifth set to secure the victory over the Roadrunners (12-7, 3-5 American).
Maddie Wilson led Wichita State with 16 kills on an efficient .538 hitting percentage, adding five block assists.
McKenzie Jones recorded a match-high 18 kills, while
Jordan Heatherly dished out 29 assists.
Olivia Cohee added nine kills, and
Gabi Maas contributed 24 digs to anchor the Shocker defense.
Wichita State opened the match with a 25-22 first-set win, finishing the frame with 18 kills and a .316 hitting percentage. UTSA responded with a dominant second set, taking a 25-14 decision to even the match at one set apiece.
The Shockers regained the lead with a 25-23 victory in the third set, holding off a late Roadrunner push to move within one set of the match. In the fourth, UTSA took a five-point lead before the Shockers rallied to tie it up at 21-21, but the Roadrunners held off Wichita State's late push, winning 25-22 to force a deciding fifth set.
In the final frame, Wichita State found its rhythm offensively, posting eight kills on just two errors for a .429 hitting percentage. The Shockers closed out the 15-11 set with a Maas ace to claim the five-set victory.
Wichita State finished with 59 kills and nine total team blocks. UTSA recorded 17 total team blocks, 14 of which came from Ledisi Kpea, and the Roadrunners were led by Ally Tribe with 16 kills.
The Shockers return to action inside Charles Koch Arena on Sunday at noon for a rematch with American Conference preseason favorite Rice.
