ARLINGTON, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word opened the 2014 volleyball season on the road Friday night in the College Park Maverick Classic at College Park Center.  The Cardinals struggled to get going against the host Mavericks and lost 25-8, 25-17, 25-18.

The Mavericks (1-0) went 19-15 in 2013 and have long been a top program in the state.  They were able to put some big runs on the Cardinals (0-1) throughout the match.  In the first set, they were leading 9-6 when they scored 10 of the next 11 points to put the set away.  They posted a .364 attack in the set while UIW had four kills and 14 attack errors with seven the results of UTA blocks.

In the second set, the Mavs jumped out to a 6-1 lead and gradually stretched it to 10 points.  The Cardinals made a late effort to get back in the set by scoring four straight points to pull to within 22-16, but that was as close as they would get.

In the third and final set, the Cardinals led as late as 7-6 and trailed just 10-9 before the Mavs put on a 6-1 run.  UIW would get it back to 19-14 after an ace by Jordan Reifsteck (Allen/Oswego East (IL) HS), but four straight points by the home team effectively ended the match.

The Cardinals would finish the match with a negative attack percentage getting 25 kills and committing 26 attack errors.  Shaina Garza (San Antonio/Warren HS) had the best night for the offense with eight kills and a .208 attack.  She also had nine digs.  Kaitlyn Brooks (Sugar Land/Fort Bend Austin HS) dished out 15 assists and Reifsteck finished with 11 digs.

The Mavs were dominant on offense and defense.  They had a .309 attack with 41 kills while posting 11 blocks and 53 digs.  Taylor Gross pounded out 10 kills and had a .500 attack.  They had three players with double-digit digs including Cassidy Wheeler who has the only double-double of the match with 11 assists and 13 digs.  Amanda Welsh led the team with 19 assists while Briana Sharratt had six blocks.

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday for two matches.  They play the University of Denver at 11 a.m. and Jackson State at 4:30 p.m.
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