SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Jordan Reifsteck's career night powered the University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team to a five-set win against Southland Conference rival Nicholls State on Thursday night at the McDermott Center 26-28, 25-17, 25-16, 10-25, 15-7.

Reifsteck (Allen/Oswego East HS) had a career high in digs and service aces, with 26 and five, respectively, while leading the defensive backline.

"I'm very proud of the performances by our freshmen middles," said UIW head coach Jen Montoya.  "They earned some big kills and blocks at key moments for us.  They played well when the game was on the line.  I'm also pleased with Jordan Reifsteck's performance, playing like a seasoned veteran.  She was a key piece of the success we had tonight."

The Cardinals (9-18, 5-8 SLC) and Colonels (9-17, 5-8 SLC) played a very close first set. They exchanged leads nine times and were tied 15 times.  UIW needed one point to take the opener at 25-24, but the Colonels won four of the next six points ultimately taking advantage of the Cardinals' 13 attack errors to win the set.

The second set turned out very differently. The Colonels hit -.049, committing 11 errors with nine kills, while the Cardinals 10 kills and five errors proved to be enough for the set.

The third set was the best of the night for the Cardinals.  It started with UIW taking five of the first six points, including four straight aces by Reifsteck.  After the Colonels 1-0 lead, they would not lead the rest of the way as the Cardinals hit a match-high .500 with no attack errors in the set.

The Colonels came out with a vengeance in the fourth set.  After struggling during the beginning of the match, Kaci Eaton dominated the fourth set.  She pounded seven of her 13 kills in the set and helped the Colonels force a decisive fifth set.

The Cardinals bounced back from their worst set of the match to hit a .333 in the fifth set, totaling eight kills and only one error.  UIW won seven of the first eight points of the set and never looked back.  The Cardinals finished the match by taking eight of the last 11 points getting some important kills and blocks from freshman Sarea Alexander (San Antonio/MacArthur HS).

"After the fourth game, we just said, 'ok we're just going to forget about that game and look forward to the next one,'" said Reifsteck. "It doesn't matter how bad you lost. We just have to focus on the next set."

Britanni Dear (La Vernia/La Vernia HS) finished with a double-double for the Cardinals getting10 kills and 15 digs.  Angelique Vidaurri (San Antonio/Southwest HS) led the offense with 12 kills while Madison Williams (New Braunfels/Canyon HS) had 39 assists, nine digs and five blocks. The Cardinals had a season-high 14 blocks with Bryaunea Hall (Copperas Cove/Copperas Cove HS) leading with nine.  The team had 47 kills and 65 digs with a .135 attack

The Colonels had 50 kills, 68 digs and 3.0 blocks with a .123 attack.  Kaci Eaton led the Colonels with 13 kills while Ainsley Marroccoli had 29 assists and 12 digs and Kalynn Egea had 17 digs.

The Cardinals are home for another Southland Conference match up on Saturday at 2 p.m. against McNeese State.
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