EDINBURG, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball split a pair of matches on Saturday at the UTRGV Tournament. They lost in four sets to San Jose State in the morning and then swept Southern.
The Cardinals (2-4) started the second day of the tournament by facing San Jose State. The Cardinals started off the match slow losing the first set 25-14.
The second set belonged to UIW as they were able to pull out a close win. After starting out the set at a 3-1 deficit, the Cardinals were able to respond to the Spartans and put together a good stretch of play with the help of two kills from
Shaina Garza (San Antonio/Warren HS) and an ace from
Autumn Lockley (Leander/Leander HS) to make the score 11-9 in favor of UIW. The back and fourth set continued as both teams fought hard to get a narrow advantage late in the set. After an attacking error by
Angelique Vidaurri (San Antonio/Southwest HS) got the Spartans within one point at 23-22, the Cardinals finished the set with two straight points to get a 25-22 set win a tie up the match at one set apiece.
The third set went back to the Spartans who won the set 25-13 and the Cardinals never threatened in the set as San Jose State had multiple runs. The first run occurred midway through the set as the Spartans had nine straight points and the second run occurred to end the set with five straight points for San Jose State.
The fourth set was very close until the end, but a late rally by UIW was not enough to keep the match going as San Jose State won the set 25-23. After three attacking errors by the Spartans to bring the Cardinals within one late in the set, San Jose State was able to get a kill by Tyanna Roy to win the set and the match.
For the match, Garza led the Cardinals with 14 kills and had a hitting percentage of .333.
Taylor McClelland (Cypress/Cypress Ranch HS) posted a double-double with 15 assists and 12 digs while
Autumn Lockley led the Cardinals with 13 digs.
In the second match of the day, the Cardinals swept the Jaguars 25-20, 25-20, 25-10. Garza had another exceptional performance pounding out 15 kills in just 23 attacks without an attack error. She finished the match with a double-double after also notching 10 digs.
The Cardinals pulled out a pair of close sets to start the match and then put the match away in the third set. They scored the first eight points of the set and never looked back.
Overall, the Cardinals posted a .280 attack in the match. In addition to Garza,
Bryaunea Hall (Copperas Cove/Copperas Cove HS) added seven kills and a .333 attack while
Hope Kelley (Stafford, VA/Colonial Forge HS) added five kills without an attack error. McClelland dished out 20 assists to lead the team while
Claudia Hernandez (San Antonio/Antonian HS) led all players with 23 digs.
The Cardinals are back in action next week at the All State Sugar Bowl Collegiate Classic hosted by Tulane.
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