BEAUMONT, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team was swept in three straight sets by Lamar University on Saturday in Southland Conference action.  The visiting Cardinals lost 25-21, 25-23, 25-20 at McDonald Gym.

UIW played it close throughout the three sets, but were unable to get over the hump against the home Cardinals of Lamar.  Midway through the first set the score was 13-12 in favor of Lamar and the home team reeled off six of the next eight points to take a 19-14 lead.  UIW responded with five of the next six points to close to within 20-19.  Unfortunately, the Cardinals attack let them down with two attack errors to end the set.

In the second set, the lead changed hands a number of times between UIW and LU.  UIW took a 12-10 lead after a kill by Shaina Garza (San Antonio/Warren HS) but LU scored the next six points that included a pair of aces by Amethyst Hollowell.  After a timeout, UIW got back into the set and pulled to within one point on three occasions, but LU was able to hold them off.

Lamar jumped out to an 8-1 lead to start the final set and let UIW get as close as three points, but no closer.

Incarnate Word finished with 35 kills, 36 digs and 9.0 blocks while posting a .165 attack percentage.  Garza, Bryaunea Hall (Copperas Cove/Copperas Cove HS) and Hope Kelley (Stafford, VA/Colonial Forge HS) were the most efficient attackers for the team.  Garza had six kills without an attack error, Hall had seven kills and a .462 attack and Kelley had six kills with a .500 attack.  Angelique Vidaurri (San Antonio/Southwest HS) recorded six blocks while Kaitlyn Brooks (Sugar Land/Fort Bend Austin HS) dished out 17 assists.

Lamar had 36 kills, 42 digs and 8.0 blocks to go with a .188 attack.  Cortney Moore led the attack with 13 kills and a .267 attack while Chelsea Grant added eight kills, seven blocks and a .438 attack.  Ashley Ellis dished out 33 assists and had four blocks.  No one on either team had double-digit digs.

The Cardinals are back in action on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Southland rival McNeese State.
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