SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team heads to Louisiana this week for two Southland Conference matches. The Cardinals face Southeastern Louisiana Thursday at 7 p.m., and then play New Orleans on Saturday at 2 p.m.

The Cardinals (6-16, 2-7 SLC) sit at 11^th place currently in the Southland Conference.  They are coming off two 3-set losses to Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Houston Baptist at home last week.  As a team, the Cardinals are averaging 11.3 kills and 14.4 digs per set while hitting .157.  Angelique Vidaurri (San Antonio/Southwest HS) continues to lead the Cardinals offense averaging 2.94 kills per set and hitting .221. Kaitlyn Brooks (Sugar Land/Fort Bend Austin) is leading the team in assists, dishing out 5.64 assists per set and Claudia Hernandez (San Antonio/Antonian) leads the defense with 3.56 digs per set.

Southeastern Louisiana (7-13, 4-4 SLC) is coming off two losses in conference to Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin.  Before the two losses, the Lady Lions' 4-2 record was their best start in Southland Conference play in over a decade. The Lady Lions' junior libero Morgan Todd earned the Southland Conference's defensive player of the week on October 13.  Todd leads the team in digs with 5.03 digs per set.  Offensively, the Lady Lions are led by Parrie Hartley with 2.17 kills per set and Mikayla Shippy, with 9.07 assists per set. As a team, the Lady Lions are averaging 11.3 kills and 15.6 digs per set and have a hitting efficiency of .148.

New Orleans (6-17, 0-9 SLC) is on a 6-game losing streak. Their last win came September 30 when they beat Alcorn State in straight sets.  At home, the Privateers are 3-7 this season.  As a team, the Privateers are averaging 10.3 kills and 13.2 digs per set and have a hitting efficiency of .128.  Cara Sander leads the team in kills, averaging 2.71 kills per set, and Sara Hammoutene leads with 8.10 assists per set. Defensively, Celeste Ramirez leads New Orleans with 3.33 digs per set.

Last year, the Cardinals faced both of these teams on the road. First, the Cardinals beat New Orleans in four sets 23-25, 25-22, 25-3, 25-17. In the match, Vidaurri and Brittani Dear (La Vernia/La Vernia hS) combined for 31 kills and a .410 hitting efficiency. Dear had a double-double in that match, as she also added 15 digs. In the match against Southeastern Louisiana, the Cardinals fell in a very tight 5-set match 23-25, 26-24, 13-25, 25-18, 15-13. Both Dear and Shaina Garza (San Antonio/Warren HS) had double-doubles in the match.  Garza had a career high 24 kills, while also adding 14 digs.  Dear contributed with 12 kills and 24 digs in the loss.
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