LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA – Junior right side hitter Angelique Vidaurri (San Antonio/Southwest HS) pounded out a career high 24 kills to lead the University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team to a four-set win at Southland Conference rival McNeese State on Sunday afternoon.

Vidaurri and the Cardinals (6-14, 2-5) came out flying in the first set.  The team scored 10 consecutive points in one stretch and closed the set by winning eight of the final nine points to take the set, 25-12.  Vidaurri hammered seven kills in just 10 attempts without an error.  UIW had a .407 attack in the set while the Cowgirls (10-12, 1-6) had a negative attack percentage.

In the second set, it was Vidaurri's defense that came to the fore front.  The Cardinals only had eight kills in the set, but accumulated seven blocks as the Cowgirls had 11 attack errors in the set.  Vidaurri recorded all five of her blocks in the set as they held McNeese to a -.133 attack percentage.  UIW was never seriously threatened in the set as they took a 23-13 lead before the Cowgirls mounted a comeback, but the Cardinals closed it out on a kill by Vidaurri for a 25-18 win.

McNeese State clawed their way back into the match in the third set.  The score was 20-19 in favor of UIW when the Cowgirls were able to take advantage of three attack errors and a service error by the visitors to take the set, 25-22.

The fourth set almost turned into a nightmare scenario for the Cardinals.  They held significant leads throughout the set and looked to have the match sewn up after taking a 24-18 lead.  However, a service error and two attack errors quickly made it 24-21.  Then, Rebecca Korenek slammed home two kills for the home team and another attack error by UIW tied the score at 24-24.  The Cardinals finally ended the run with a kill, but then Korenek and Amber Fryer actually gave the Cowgirls match point.

The Cardinals finally closed the match thanks to the play of freshman Hope Kelley (Stafford, VA/Colonial Forge HS).  Her kill tied the set at 26-26 and then she teamed with Bryaunea Hall (Copperas Cove/Copperas Cove HS) on a block.  The match ended on an attack error by the Cowgirls, 28-26 for the Cardinals.

UIW finished with 54 kills, 52 digs and 12.0 blocks while posting a .212 attack.  Vidaurri finished with 24 kills, five blocks and a .395 attack.  Hall had 11 kills, seven blocks and a .346 attack.  Kaitlyn Brooks (Sugar Land/Fort Bend Austin HS) and Taylor McClelland (Cypress/Cypress Ranch HS) combined to dish out 51 assists.  Jordan Reifsteck led the squad with 16 digs.

McNeese State had 37 kills, 51 digs and 7.0 blocks with a .038 attack.  Korenek led the team with 12 kills while Kelly Graham had 31 assists and eight digs.

The Cardinals return home on Thursday night at 7 p.m. to take on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in their first home match in three weeks.
####
pr14453smm