Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Playing their closest match of the year, the University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team showed a steely resolve in gutting out a tough five-set victory over visiting Southland Conference rival Stephen F. Austin on Halloween night at the McDermott Center.

The match featured four sets decided by two points and three sets that went to extra points.  UIW pulled out a 25-27, 25-16, 25-27, 25-23, 16-14 that featured come from behind wins in the final two sets.

The Ladyjacks (13-13, 5-8), led by the play of middle blocker Jacque Allen who finished the night with 14 kills and nine blocks, won a pair of close sets sandwiched around an easy second set win for the Cardinals (11-10, 6-6).  In the second set win for UIW, Sarah Cardenas (San Antonio/O'Connor HS) served up 10 consecutive points to build up a 12-1 lead that proved to be the longest run of the match.

The fourth set went back and forth.  First, the Ladyjacks held a three-point lead, but the Cardinals battled back and eventually took a 19-15 lead after Jaina Jackson (Huntley, IL/Huntley HS) was in on three consecutive blocks.  SFA came back scoring six of the next seven points as Allen had two kills and two blocks in the stretch to give them a 21-20 lead.  Finally, the Cardinals took control of the set and won it on a Meaghan Patterson (Helotes/O'Connor HS) solo block to force a fifth set.

The fifth set did not start well for the Cardinals with the Ladyjacks quickly taking an 8-4 advantage at the changeover.  SFA maintained their lead thanks to three errors by the Cardinals and had a chance to serve for the match.  The serve went into the net and the ball went back to the Cardinals.  Freshman Shaina Garza (San Antonio/Warren HS) served up the final four points of the match for UIW.  An attack error by SFA followed by a match-saving block by Beth Soukup (Helotes/O'Connor HS) and Patterson tied the set at 14-14.  Brittani Dear (La Vernia/La Vernia HS) followed with a kill to give the Cardinals their first lead of the set and then a final SFA attack error gave the match to the Cardinals.

The Cardinals had 64 kills, 73 digs, 11.0 blocks and a .173 attack percentage.  Garza led the team with 17 kills and 15 digs while Dear also had a double-double with 14 kills, 17 digs and a .278 attack.  Jackson finished her night with nine kills and eight blocks while Soukup had six kills and a .357 attack.  Danielle Suarez (San Antonio/Antonian HS) contributed 31 assists and 14 digs while Taylor McClelland (Cypress/Cypress Ranch HS) handed out 22 assists.  Cardenas added 17 digs.

The Ladyjacks had 61 kills, 73 digs, 14.0 blocks and a .123 attack percentage.  In addition to Allen, Tori Bates had 13 kills and Justice Walker had 11 kills, five blocks and a .348 attack.  Paige Holland led the team with 33 assists and OJ Olson led all players with 25 digs.

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday at 2 p.m. against Northwestern State at home.
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