ARLINGTON, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word followed a Friday night loss with a 4-game set to the University of Denver and their first win of the season, in straight sets against Jackson State University, Saturday at the College Park Maverick Classic.

In the first match, the Cardinals got off to a good start, taking the first set 25-20 while posting a .308 attack. But after that, they were unable to stop the Pioneers, dropping three straight sets, 17-25, 12-25 and 23-25.

The Cardinals were leading 20-18 in the fourth frame, but then Cassie Baird and Nola Basey combined for five kills, mixed with a few errors from the Cardinals, to ultimately give the Pioneers the set and the match.

Angelique Vidaurri (San Antonio/Southwest HS) led the Cardinals with 12 kills on .296 hitting.  Shaina Garza (San Antonio/Warren HS) added 22 digs and posted nine kills while Taylor McClelland (Cypress/Cypress Ranch HS) dished out 24 assists with 15 digs.

The big difference maker for the Pioneers was their outstanding defense; out blocking the Cardinals, 15-5.

In the second match of the day, the Cardinals showed some resilience and were able to avoid a winless start to their season with a 25-15, 25-15, 25-23 sweep of Jackson State.

In the first set the score was tied 9-9 and from then on, the Cardinals did not look back winning it easily by 10 points.  For set number two, it was the same score, with the Cardinals leading comfortably the whole way.

Set three was a different story. The Tigers were up a few times during the game, including a 20-18 lead.  The Cardinals fought back and were able to salvage their first win of their 2014 season, even though they only hit .073.

Leading the way for the Cardinals were Kaitlyn Brooks (Sugarland/Fort Bend Austin HS), Patterson and Garza.  The latter two were tied for the team lead with nine kills apiece and Brooks led the team in assists with 21 and also added six digs.

Garza was named to the College Park Maverick Classic All-Tournament Team along with Stacey Koch (UT-Arlington), Ashley Bennett (UT-Arlington), Erica Denney (Denver), Bailey Karst (Denver) and Cassie Baird (Denver).

The Cardinals (1-2), will travel to Springfield, Missouri to the Missouri State Tournament September 5 and 6.  They will face Western Kentucky, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Missouri State and Oral Roberts.
####
pr14354smm