LUBBOCK, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team continues their tournament schedule this week when they travel to the Texas Tech Invitational starting on Thursday.
         
UIW can expect more challenging matches as they go up against the hosts, Texas Tech, Thursday at 6 p.m.  Then Friday, they battle their I-35 rival Texas State at 10 a.m. and finish off the tournament against Gardner-Webb at 4 p.m.

Their first opponent, Texas Tech (6-0), have yet to lose a match in the 2014 season.  The Red Raiders return 14 players from last season. Two of those players, Rachel Brummitt and Bree David, both played for the collegiate US National team this summer, where they traveled to Italy, Slovenia and Croatia.  Brummit became one of the top liberos in the Big 12 last year.  David led the team in kills per set last season with 3.4 and has totaled 757 kills in her career.

The Bobcats from Texas State (5-4) joined the Sun Belt Conference last year and quickly made an impact.  They finished third in the standings, but ended up winning the conference tournament championship sending them to their ninth NCAA appearance in their history.  A big part of their team's success for this season lies in senior, Caylin Mahoney.  Last season she totaled 1,256 assists, 166 kills, 371 digs and 51 blocks; she hit an outstanding .334.  Mahoney was voted to the Sun Belt pre-season all-conference team and also got honors as the pre-season setter of the year.

Gardner-Webb (1-7) is picked to finish in eighth place in the Big South Conference for the 2014 season.  The Running Bulldogs return four starters and 10 players overall. Senior setter Heather Feldman had a breakout 2013 campaign, leading the team with 1,242 assists, which was also a career high, and also adding 287 digs. Senior Tyler Cockrell missed all of 2013 due to an injury, but after leading the team in both kills and blocks in the previous campaign, 2012.

The Cardinals are averaging 10.7 kills per set, while allowing 13.2 to their opponents.  Shaina Garza (San Antonio/Warren HS) leads the team in kills and digs, with 66 and 78, respectively and Taylor McClelland (Cypress/ Cypress Ranch HS) leads in the assist department with 83.  The Cardinals hope to defeat Texas Tech for a second straight season.  Last year, UIW won a thrilling 5-set match as their home opener.  This will be the first time the Cardinals have played Texas State or Gardner-Webb.
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