SAN ANTONIO, TX – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team was unable to extend their winning streak to five matches after a valiant comeback attempt in the fifth set against UT-Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday night at the McDermott Center.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Cardinal's (9-14, 5-5 SLC) attack came out firing on cylinders and overwhelmed the Vaqueros in the first set. UIW had 19 kills and Autumn Lockley and Bryaunea Hall led the Cardinals to a 25-21 opening set win with 11 combined kills.
 
In the second frame, it was UT-Rio Grande Valley (16-9, 5-4 WAC) who came out attacking. The Vaqueros were very efficient with 11 kills and only two errors while the Cardinals posted six kills and six errors. Ragni Steen Knudsen led the Vaqueros to a 25-16 victory with four kills to tie the match at 1-1.
 
In the third, UIW struggled once again with attacking errors as the team posted a -.028 attacking percentage with seven kills and eight errors. The Cardinals would drop the set 25-18 to go down 2-1 in the match.
 
In a must win set for UIW, the Cardinals responded with 14 kills and a .278 attacking percentage. After the Vaqueros tied the frame at 23-23, the Cardinals were able to score the final two points highlighted by a kill from Sarea Alexander to win the set 25-23 and force a fifth set.
 
UIW could not overcome four errors in the final set and the team only mustard four kills as UT-Rio Grande Valley was able to finish off the five set victory with a 15-13 win in the final period.  
 
LEADERS
 
Hall led the Cardinals with 13 kills and a .375 attacking percentage and Lockley notched her 10^th double-double of the season with 11 kills and 11 digs. Shaina Garza also had a double-double with 11 kills and 14 digs while Madison Williams played very well with 19 assists and 13 digs. Sierra Moses led the Cardinals with 21 assists and Claudia Hernandez finished with 14 digs. UIW had 50 kills and a .118 hitting percentage as a team.
 
Steen Knudsen led the Vaqueros with 17 kills and a .255 attacking percentage. Bojana Mitrovic added 16 kills and a team high 15 digs. Tina Sekulic finished with 15 assists and 11 digs while Dubravka Vukoja led the team with 27 assists.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Cardinals are set to hit the road as they travel to take on Texas A&M – Corpus Christi on Saturday starting a 1 p.m. in the Dugan Wellness Center.