SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team lost in straight sets to conference rival Houston Baptist, 25-14, 26-24, 25-23 on Saturday afternoon at the McDermott Center.

Angelique Vidaurri (San Antonio/Southwest HS) started off the first set on fire as she went on an impressive run getting a kill in nine straight attacks.  She ended the match with 17 kills and a hitting percentage of .615, leading the team in both categories. The Cardinals (6-16, 2-7 SLC) could not take advantage of Vidaurri's strong play as the Huskies came up with the big plays at the right moments.

In the first set, the Huskies (9-12, 4-3 SLC) hit an impressive .640, totaling 17 kills with only one error in the set to hold off the Cardinals and their .320 percentage. HBU led the whole set with UIW never threatening.

The Cardinals bounced back in the second set taking the first three points and staying close to the Huskies the whole set.  The score was tied 13-13 before the Huskies took the next four points to make it 17-13.  The Cardinals tied it all up at 24-24, but back-to-back kills from Allison Doerpinghaus and Jessica Wooten sealed the second set in favor of the Huskies, 26-24.

In the third set, the Cardinals led for a majority of the time.  They led by as many as four points, but after leading 20-18 the Huskies rallied for three straight points to force the Cardinals to call a timeout.  UIW took the next three points out of the timeout forcing HBU to call a timeout down, 23-21.  HBU came back from the timeout determined to take the set and the match.  They responded taking the next four points to win it.

Kaitlyn Brooks (Sugar Land/Fort Bend Austin HS) and Taylor McClelland (Cypress/Cypress Ranch HS) led the Cardinals with 19 and 14 assists, respectively. Brooks was also very strong defensively as she led the team with 12 digs.  Vidaurri and Bryaunea Hall (Copperas Cove/Copperas Cove HS) combined for 10 block assists.  Overall, the Cardinals had 39 kills, 38 digs, 8.0 blocks and a .255 attack percentage.

The Huskies totaled 54 kills led by Jessica Wooten and Megan McStravick who had 20 and 15, respectively.  As a team they had an attack percentage of .373.  Kayla Armer dished 47 assists while Wooten also led the team with 12 digs.

The Cardinals are back on the road next week as they travel to Southeastern Louisiana to face the Lady Lions on Thursday at 7 p.m., and then play the New Orleans Privateers on Saturday at 2 p.m.  
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