Box Score

HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The University of Central Arkansas rallied from two sets down to force a fifth, but could not top UTSA in the finals of 2010 Southland Conference Tournament Finals at Johnson Coliseum on Sunday afternoon. After the 25-17, 25-22, 19-25, 21-25, 15-13 loss, the Sugar Bears finish the season with a 28-8 record, the third most wins in program history.

The Roadrunners improved to 22-11 and will represent the Southland in the NCAA Tournament.

UCA had an early 5-4 lead in the first set when UTSA went on a 6-0 run to make it 10-5 and take control of the game. Both teams recorded 10 kills in the opener, but the Roadrunners hit .105 while the Sugar Bears hit -.064 and made 13 errors. First team All-SLC selection Jessica Hays recorded six kills in the set and became UCA’s all-time single season leader in kills.

Set two saw 11 ties and three different lead changes. Tied at 21-21, UTSA ended the set with a 4-1 rally, including a pair of kills from outside hitter Kendra Rowland. The Roadrunners hit .485 with 19 kills in the set while the Sugar Bears hit .387 with 15 kills.

UTSA had a 15-9 lead in the third set, but UCA answered with a 7-0 run to go up 16-15. The Roadrunners tied it up at 18-18, but the Sugar Bears ended the frame with a 6-1 rally, including four kills from freshman outside hitter Kyle Hartman.

Hartman, a native of Phoenix, paced the Sugar Bears with five kills in the third. UCA hit .200 with 12 kills and only four errors, while UTSA hit .128 with 12 kills and seven errors.

Down 16-15 in the fourth set, Central Arkansas had a 9-2 spurt with four kills from Hays to lead 24-18. UTSA managed to score the next three points, but Hays knocked down a final kill to win the frame 25-21.

In the fourth set, UCA hit .222 with 15 kills and UTSA hit .154 with 11 kills.

The momentum in the fifth set shifted several times with both teams making runs. The Sugar Bears led 8-6 when the Roadrunners ran off four straight to take a 10-8 advantage. UTSA pushed it to 14-11, but a Hays kill and a block from senior Chloe Smith and Jessica Nagy cut the deficit to 14-13. UTSA’s Whitney Walls ended the match with a kill.

The Sugar Bears hit just .100 with six kills in the final set, while the Roadrunners hit .217 with nine kills.

“I’m very proud of the way our team fought tonight,” said UCA head coach Steven McRoberts. “We showed a lot of heart when we were down 15-9 in the third set. UTSA played great and I wish them the best as they represent the Southland in the NCAA Tournament.

“Our seniors didn’t end their careers the way I thought they would, but they have left a legacy and a very high standard for the players that follow them. We learned a lot this year and we have a majority of our team back so we expect to get a chance at this thing next year when we host it. I would like to thank everyone that has helped and supported our team. It was a great run.”

For the match, the Roadrunners hit .209 with 61 kills and the Sugar Bears hit .158 with 58 kills.

Rowland, the tournament MVP, led UTSA with 16 kills to go with 17 digs. Walls had 15 kills and Brittney Malloy hit .600 with 14 kills. Kelsey Jawasko recorded 20 kills and Kelsey Scwirtlich had 49 assists.

Hays finished with 22 kills and a career-high 22 digs. Smith, an all-tournament team selection, had 16 kills, 14 digs and five blocks. Hartman recorded a season-best nine kills and junior libero Cristin Curl had 24 digs. All-tournament team member Marissa Collins recorded 53 assists and 10 digs.

Hays’ season ends with 487 kills, breaking Sarah Dueker’s school record of 469, set in 1992.

It was the final match in the careers of seniors Smith and Chloe Evans. Smith ends her career as UCA’s career leader in kills (1,689), kills per set (3.78) and attempts (4,182). Evans, a defensive specialist, finished with 702 career digs.