DENTON, TEXAS – For the second time this year the University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team suffered a four-set loss to Texas Woman's University.  In each case, the Pioneers won the first two sets by two points, the Cardinals won the third set by two points and then TWU finished off the fourth set. (Box Score)

On Friday night, the Pioneers (14-5, 8-3) defeated the visiting Cardinals (7-11, 4-6) by a score of 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, 25-16 at Kitty Magee Arena.  Viktorija Jablonska led TWU with a triple-double consisting of 18 kills, 13 digs and 12 assists.

In each of the first two sets the Cardinals took the early lead in the Lone Star Conference match.  They led 7-3 in the first set before the Pioneers stormed back and eventually took the lead at 10-9.  TWU would take the lead for good at 15-14 in the first set.

The second set was similar as the Cards jumped out to an 8-5 lead and they still led 13-10 before the Pioneers made their run.  TWU scored the next five points to take a 15-13 lead before UIW responded with a 4-1 run to reclaim a 17-16 advantage.  Late in the set, the Pioneers went to Marcela Alves who pounded out a pair of kills for their final two points to take a 2-0 lead.

The third set was one of many runs.  The Pioneers opened by scoring the first four points, but the Cardinals had two 4-0 runs and a 5-0 run.  With the score 24-23 for the Cardinals, libero Lydia Werchan (Spring Branch/Smithson Valley HS) picked up her only kill of the match to secure the set victory.

The fourth set looked like a remake of the first three sets.  After 25 points, the Pioneers led 13-12.  Unfortunately, TWU put the match away with a 10-2 run and won the set, 25-16.

The Cardinals had 50 kills, 66 digs and a .125 attack in the match.  Beth Soukup (Helotes/O'Connor HS) led the team with 11 kills, 15 digs and a .235 attack.  Danielle Suarez (San Antonio/Antonian Prep) added a double-double with 27 assists and 16 digs.  Werchan led the team with 17 digs while Kelci Lind (Lindale/Lindale HS) added a double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs.

The Pioneers had 63 kills, 82 digs, 7.0 blocks and a .263 attack.  In addition to Jablonska, Alves had 21 kills, four blocks and a .643 attack.  Kayla Rivero had a double-double with 31 assists and 15 digs while Torie Talkington added 11 kills and 14 digs.

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Texas A&M-Commerce.
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