SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of Incarnate Word volleyball team gave their fans a thrilling match on Thursday evening in the first home match of the season at the McDermott Convocation Center.  Stephen F. Austin prevailed against UIW 22-25, 25-19, 29-31, 25-23, 16-14 in a close five-set match.

Early on for the Cardinals, senior Angelique Vidaurri (San Antonio/Southwest HS) led the team to the first set victory with six kills.  Vidaurri had an electrifying serve that gave the Ladyjacks (11-8, 3-0) problems all match long. The Cardinals controlled the pace of the first set and only committed six errors while collecting 16 kills for the set.

After winning the first set, the Cardinals were unable to take their early momentum into the second set.  For the set, UIW committed seven errors on 30 total attacks which led to a .167 attack percentage for the Cardinals opposed to a .292 attack percentage for the Ladyjacks.   

The third set was full of highlights and was close until the very end.  It took 31 points for the Cardinals to achieve the set victory and it put them ahead in the match. The Cardinals trailed 18-12 when they stormed back scoring nine of the next 10 points, including three service aces.  UIW never trailed the rest of the set and finally won after a kill by Autumn Lockley (Leander/Leander HS) and a block by Lockley and Sarea Alexander (San Antonio/MacArthur HS).

Coming back onto the court after the huge set victory, the Cardinals' attack struggled only mustering a .182 attack percentage.  The team struggled with the wall created by Abby Mclntyre and Justice Walker who combined for 14 blocks on the match.  The Ladyjacks were able to hold a slim lead the majority of the set.  UIW pulled to within 23-22 and 24-23 late in the set, but they could not get take the lead.

The pivotal fifth set belonged to Stephen F. Austin from the start. The Cardinals were forced to call two timeouts early in the set, but rallied late after back to back kills by Lockley to get within two of the Ladyjacks.  The Cardinals trailed 10-4 and 14-10 before making a final push for victory behind the serve of Claudia Hernandez (San Antonio/Antonian HS) who gave the team four straight points to tie the match at 14-14, but the Ladyjacks took the set and match behind a block from Jacque Allen and Tori Bates and a kill by Allen.

For the match, Lockley had a career night as the freshman led the Cardinals with 22 kills and a .319 hitting percentage. To go along with her 22 kills, Lockley also had 12 digs to top off her outstanding night.  Vidaurri and Bryaunea Hall (Copperas Cove/Copperas Cove HS) played very well for the Cardinals with 12 and 14 kills, respectively.  Vidaurri led the team in hitting percentage at .409.  Taylor McClelland (Cypress/Cypress Ranch HS) led the team with a season high 37 assists.  Hernandez led the team with 18 digs while Hall and Alexander each had six blocks.

The Cardinals had 70 kills, 71 digs, 12.0 blocks and a .189 attack for the match while the Ladyjacks had 52 kills, 68 digs, 15.0 blocks and a .179 attack.  Abby McIntyre led the team with 14 kills, 12 digs and seven blocks.  Shannon Connell also had a double-double with 44 assists and 11 digs.

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday at 11 a.m. against Northwestern State.
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