SAN ANTONIO, TX – In one of the most interesting matches of the year, the University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team was able to close out a 3-2 victory over Lamar (3-15, 3-3 SLC) on Thursday night at the McDermott Center. The home crowd was treated to a spectacular match that featured twist and turns during every set.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The match started out slowly for UIW as errors plagued the team during the first set. The Cardinals (6-13, 2-5) had 10 errors and a .027 attacking percentage during the first and Lamar was able to jump out to an early lead after the 25-20 set victory. Shaina Garza and Sarea Alexander each had three kills to lead the team early.
 
In the second frame, UIW flipped the scripted and the attack was potent with 11 kills and only one error while Lamar accumulated eight errors and a .097 hitting percentage. After being shutout in the opening set, Autumn Lockley heated up with six kills to lead the Cardinals to a 25-15 win to tie the match at 1-1.
 
Lockley continued her solid play offensively in the third period, but it was not enough as Lamar was able to come away with a 25-21 victory to regain the lead. Lamar had 14 kills in the third with a .176 attacking percentage and Tomar Thomas led the team with five kills.
 
In a must win set for UIW, the Cardinals came out with a purpose in the fourth and they refused to lose. Garza and Lockley willed the team to victory in one of the most important sets of the season combining for 15 of the team's 20 kills. The highlight of the set occurred after a service error by Lamar gave UIW a 31-30 advantage. Freshman Cameron Taylor, who just entered the match for the first time, was able to block a rocket launched by Chelsea Grant to give the Cardinals a 32-30 win and extend the match to a fifth set.
 
In the final set, the UIW attack was brilliant and the team did not let the victory slip away. Lockley once again led the Cardinals with four kills and the team posted a .300 hitting percentage on their way to a 15-13 win.
 
LEADERS
 
For the Cardinals, Lockley and Garza combined for 39 of the team's 61 kills. Lockley finished with 20 kills and a .429 attacking percentage and Garza had a season high 19. Alexander added nine kills and Sierra Moses had a team high 33 assists while Madison Williams contributed 19. Claudia Hernandez led the defense with 13 digs and Moses added 10 for her first double-double of the season.
 
Grant led Lamar with 19 kills and Thomas had 15 with a .231 attacking percentage. Ivette Dim also had a good match with 12 kills and Murielle Hlavac pitched in 14. Haley Morton directed the Lamar attack with a match high 57 assists and she also had a match high 20 digs as well.
 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals are back at home on Saturday at 11 a.m. in the McDermott Center as they take on Houston Baptist for the first time this season in another Southland Conference matchup.
 
STAY TUNED
 
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