CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team heads down to the Islanders Classic starting Thursday.

The Cardinals (3-7) start the tournament against the host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, who are 4-7 on the season, Thursday at 6:00 p.m. The Islanders were picked to finish third in the Southland Conference in the pre-season coaches poll.

The Islanders posted a school best, 13-5 record during conference play last season, and placed three players in the Southland Conference all-tournament team. They are coming off a 1-3 weekend at the Long Beach State/Loyola Marymount Tournament last weekend.  The Islanders only win on the weekend came on a tight 5-set match against St. Mary's College.  Brianna Brink is leading the Islanders in kills with 148, but is only hitting .186 while adding 28 blocks.

On Friday, the Cardinals have a doubleheader against Boise State (4-5) at 1:00 p.m. and the University of Nebraska at Omaha (4-5) at 5:00 p.m.
Boise State was picked to finish sixth in the Mountain West Conference this year, by the conference coaches.  The Broncos return four senior starters in Alyssa Gammel, Taylor Murphey, Brittany Reardon, and Aly Duffin.  The Broncos are averaging 13.5 kills per set and hold an attacking percentage of .270.  Sarah Baugh is leading the team in assists with 356, averaging 10.79 per set.
    
Omaha is coming off two wins at the Billiken Invitational at the Chaifetz Pavilion. The Mavericks return a total of 10 letterwinners from the 2013 campaign, including outside hitter Kelley Wollak, who averaged 2.58 kills per set last year. This season, the Mavericks are averaging 11.2 kills per set and are hitting .178
    
The Cardinals are averaging 11.1 kills per set, 10.4 assists per set, 13.9 digs per set and have a .152 attack percentage for the season.  Angelique Vidaurri (San Antonio/Southwest HS) leads the offensive attack with 2.85 kills per set and a .201 attack percentage.  Kaitlyn Brooks (Sugar Land/Fort Bend Austin HS) and Taylor McClelland (Cypress/Cypress Ranch HS) are directing the attack with 5.71 and 3.76 assists per set, respectively.  Claudia Hernandez (San Antonio/Antonian HS) is the defensive leader with 3.45 digs per set.

The Cardinals first home match is Saturday, September 27, when they face the University of Central Arkansas at 2:00 p.m. The match is the first conference game of the season for UIW.
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