SAN ANTONIO, TX – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team dropped a second straight Lone Star Conference match on Friday night to visiting #7 West Texas A&M in straight sets 25-14, 27-25, 25-5. (Box Score)

The Lady Buffs (15-2, 6-1) easily took care of the first set, beating the Cardinals (6-10, 3-5) 25-14, but the second set was close. After trading points with West Texas in the beginning of the second set, the Cardinals broke away to take a 16-12 lead, their largest lead of the match.  The Lady Buffs would not go down easily as they closed the gap tying the game at 20 before letting the Cardinals go on another 3-0 run. The set would be tied three more times - at 23, 24 and 25 – before the Lady Buffs would take the set, 27-25.

A strong attacking game for the nationally ranked Lady Buffs would end up being what sent the Cardinals back to their locker room with a loss. Led by Erin Dougherty and Halie Harton with 13 kills apiece, there was not much the Cardinals could do to combat the West Texas A&M offense.  Lacy Hayes finished the match with 34 of the team's 44 assists. 

The Cardinals finished the match with 42 digs and 30 kills. Leading the way defensively was Lydia Werchan (Spring Branch/Smithson Valley) with 20 digs.  At the net, Kelci Lind (Lyndale/Lyndale) recorded nine kills and Tina Chavis (Houston/Bush HS) was right behind her with seven and a .286 attack.  Danielle Suarez (San Antonio/Antonion Prep) had 13 assists, while Sarah Cardenas (San Antonio/O'Connor) contributed 11.

The Cardinals are back in action at home on Saturday at 2 p.m. against Eastern New Mexico.
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