SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – After dropping their first home match of the season on Friday, the University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team returned to their home court on Saturday for a match against Texas Woman's University.  The Cardinals lost the Lone Star Conference matchup 25-23, 26-24, 23-25, 25-17 at the McDermott Center. (Box Score)

It was a tough loss for the Cardinals (3-7, 0-2).  They led by as many as four points in the first set when they took a 17-13 lead after an attack error by the Pioneers (8-2, 2-0).  TWU fought back and the teams were tied at 23-23 before a block and UIW attack error gave the set to the visitors.

In the second set the Pioneers jumped out to leads of 10-2 and 13-3 before the Cardinals made a furious rally.  The Cards eventually tied the score at 21-21 and even held a 23-22 lead after a kills by Beth Soukup (Helotes/O'Conner HS).  TWU went to LSC Preseason Player of the Year Viktorija Jablonska for the final two points of the set and she picked up two kills to take a 2-0 lead.

The third set was another nail-biter, but this time senior Stephanie Bonura (Houston/Lutheran North HS) put the finishing touches on for the Cardinals with a kill for a 25-23 win.

In the fourth and final set, the Cardinals finally ran out of steam and the Pioneers were able to comfortably win 25-17 and take the match.

Tina Chavis (Houston/Bush) led the Cardinal attack with nine kills and a .278 attack. Right behind her was Bonura and Angelique Vidaurri (San Antonio/Southwest HS). The pair combined for 15 kills and six blocks.

The Cardinal attack had 44 kills and a .146 attack percentage on the match. Danielle Suarez (San Antonio/Antonian Prep) recorded 21 assists and led the team in the category. Sarah Cardenas (San Antonio/O'Connor HS) ended the match with a double-double with 16 assists and 14 digs. Defensively, Baleigh Schaetter (Fredericksburg/Fredericksburg HS) had five block assists and one block solo and Lydia Werchan (Spring Branch/Smithson Valley) led the team with 18 digs.

The Pioneers ended the match with 63 kills, 90 digs and a .208 attack percentage. Leading Texas Woman's attack was Jablonska with 16 kills, 19 digs, 12 assists and a .364 attack.  Kayla Rivero dished out 28 assists.  Chloe Tate added 11 kills and eight blocks while Josie Santos contributed 15 kills and eight digs.

Incarnate Word hits the road again for a match against Midwestern State in Wichita Falls on September 20 at 7 p.m.
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