THIBODAUX, LOUISIANA – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team is set to travel to Louisiana this week for a pair of Southland Conference matches against Nicholls and McNeese State. The first match will take place on Thursday against Nicholls at 6:30 p.m. Two days later, the Cardinals travel to McNeese State for a 12:30 p.m. start.
Entering the upcoming matches, the Cardinals (7-14, 5-7) have been playing well going 3-2 over their last five matches including a 3-2 victory over McNeese State last week. Freshman outside hitter
Autumn Lockley (Leander/Leander HS) leads the attack with 3.18 kills/set and a .242 attacking percentage.
Kaitlyn Brooks (Sugar Land/Fort Bend Austin HS) and
Taylor McClelland (Cypress/Cypress Ranch HS) direct the UIW attack with both averaging over five assists/set.
In their next match, UIW will face the Nicholls Colonels (6-18, 1-11) in a conference matchup. Nicholls has struggled at home going 0-5 on their home court. In their last three matches, the Colonels are 1-2 with a 3-1 victory against Abilene Christian last week. The Colonels attack has been very balanced so far this season as they have four players who average over two kills/set. Leading the attack is junior outside hitter Kaci Eaton who is averaging 3.75 kills/set with a .192 hitting percentage. Kayla Mashburn is second on the team 2.85 kills/set. Directing the attack is setter Alyse Barclay who is averaging 7.20 assists/set. The best defenders for Nicholls are Stephanie Tobison and Anna Niederhauser who are averaging 3.72 digs/set and 3.04 digs/set.
On Saturday, the Cardinals will take on McNeese State in a rematch from last week. In their last three matches, the Cowgirls are 1-2, but they play very well at home with a 6-2 record on their home court. Leading the Cowgirl attack is Malina Sanchez who is averaging 3.08 kills/set with an attacking percentage of .246. Kelly Graham directs the McNeese State attack and she is averaging 9.25 assists/set. The top defender for the Cowgirls is defensive specialist Bridget Justis who is averaging 4.25 digs/set.
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