Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team won a thrilling five-set match over visiting Texas Tech on Monday night at the McDermott Center in front of 1,262 screaming fans on "White Out Night." 

The Cardinals (4-2) battled back from a set down two different times to defeat the Red Raiders (6-8) 18-25, 27-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-13.  It was the first ever win for the program over a Big 12 Conference school.  UIW was able to weather the initial storm when Texas Tech opened the match with a .464 attack percentage in the first set.

After the relatively easy first set for the visitors it looked like they would also take the second set.  They led 13-7 midway through the second half, when the Cardinals clawed their way back into the match.  They scored six of the next seven points and finally pulled even at 17-17 after a kill from freshman Shaina Garza (San Antonio/Warren HS).  Late in the set the Cardinals rode the powerful arm of outside hitter Angelique Vidaurri (San Antonio/Southwest HS) who pounded out points 19-24 and gave the team the opportunity to win the set.  They took the set when Sarah Cardenas (San Antonio/O'Connor HS) served up an ace to even the match.

Following the 10 minute intermission, both teams struggled with their attack.  The Red Raiders posted a .152 attack while the Cardinals had a .068 attack in the third set.  The teams had 11 ties in the set, but Texas Tech reeled off five points in a row to take a 17-17 score to 22-17 and then they held serve to take a 2-1 lead.

The fourth set began with the Cardinals building up a 6-2 lead behind the strong service game of Brittani Dear (La Vernia/La Vernia HS) who dealt a pair of aces in a six-point run.  The early lead was short-lived as the Red Raiders stormed back with a 13-6 run.  After a timeout, the Cardinals came back with three consecutive points to get back in the set and they would reclaim the lead after a Jaina Jackson (Huntley, IL/USC-Upstate) service ace made it 19-18.  Texas Tech tied the game at 22-22 on an Aubree Piper kill and then the Cardinals went back to Vidaurri to help close out the set as her two consecutive kills made it set point and an attack error by Tech evened the match at 2-2.

The fifth and final set was another close one.  They Cardinals led by as many as three points, but they could not shake the Red Raiders.  The Cardinals had two opportunities to win the match and they pulled it off on the second try when Vidaurri closed it out with her 23^rd kill of the night.

The Cardinals had 65 kills and a .259 attack as Vidaurri and Garza combined for 43 kills.  Vidaurri posted a .419 attack while Garza was right behind at .354.  Setter Danielle Suarez (San Antonio/Antonian HS) dished out 34 assists and had 10 digs while Taylor McClelland (Cypress/Cypress Ranch HS) chipped in with 16 digs.  Dear had a fabulous all-around match with 16 digs, eight kills, three aces and five blocks and Cardenas led the team with 18 digs.

The Red Raiders had 70 kills and a .267 attack that was directed by Emily Ruetter who finished with 60 assists and three blocks.  Piper led the team with 19 kills and a .389 attack while Mikia Mills added 18 kills and a .667 attack.  Rachel Brummitt led all players with 19 digs.

The Cardinals open up Southland Conference action on Thursday night when they travel to Oral Roberts for a 7 p.m. start.
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