ABILENE, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team used a match high 25 kills from Angelique Vidaurri (San Antonio/Southwest HS) to edge Abilene Christian in a five-set match 27-25, 25-15, 23-25, 22-25, 15-9 on Saturday.

The Cardinals (8-17, 4-8 SLC) battled on the road for their fourth win in the Southland Conference this season.  Three Cardinals had double-doubles in the contest. Britanni Dear (La Vernia/La Vernia HS) had 13 kills and 17 digs while Shaina Garza (San Antonio/Warren HS) totaled 15 kills and 11 digs.  Freshman setter Madison Williams (New Braunfels/Canyon HS) finished the match with 60 assists and 18 digs.

The first set was the tightest of the match. The lead changed hands 13 times and eight ties occurred.  The Wildcats (4-22, 2-10 SLC) out-hit the Cardinals .244-.175, but the Cardinals found a way to win four of the last six points of the match, to take the opener.

The second set was all Cardinals as they did not trail throughout the set.  The Wildcats threatened briefly when they made the score to 19-15, but the Cardinals took the last six points of the set to take a commanding 2-0 lead.

The third set was also very evenly played.  Neither team led by more than three points throughout the entire set.  The Wildcats committed only one attack error in the set and their .343 attack percentage was their highest of the day and they forced a fourth set.

The fourth set turned out to be the worst for the Cardinals offensively.  They had an attack percentage of .083 and totaled 10 errors.  The Wildcats took advantage of all the Cardinals' mistakes and forced a decisive fifth set.

In the last set, the Cardinals came out firing.  They took the first three points of the set and never looked back.  Vidaurri, Dear and Garza combined for 11 kills in the set, giving the set and the match to UIW.

Williams once again served as the lone setter for the Cardinals, leading them with 60 assists while also adding 18 digs.  Claudia Hernandez (San Antonio/Antonian HS) led the defense with 20 digs and Vidaurri's 25 kills led the UIW offense.  As a team, the Cardinals hit .235 for the day.

Jennifer Loerch led the Wildcats in kills with 14 and also added 13 digs.  Sarah Siemens dished out 30 assists and Brooke Ray led the defense with 18 digs.  As a team, the Wildcats hit .212.

The win in Abilene closes out the Cardinals road schedule.  Their last five matches of the season will take place at home, starting with a non-conference match-up against UT-Pan American on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at the McDermott Center.
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