SAN ANTONIO, TX – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team defeated McNeese in three sets on Saturday afternoon at the McDermott Center on senior day. The Cardinals used a 15-point run in the third set to close out the Cowgirls and secure their seventh Southland Conference victory of the season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The opening set was the closest of the match and featured 20 tied scores and eight lead changes. The Cardinals had 20 kills as a team with a .235 attacking percentage. The set was extremely close late, and the turning point came on a kill from Shaina Garza that gave UIW a 31-30 advantage. The Next play, UIW won the set on an attacking error by McNeese.
 
The Cardinals used the momentum from the opening set victory and continued their great play. The Cardinals scored the final four points of the match to get a 25-19 win in the second frame. Sarea Alexander led the Cardinals with five kills and the team finished with 13.
 
The final period was the best in school history. After starting the set with a five-point run, the Cowgirls scored two points to close the deficit to 6-2. However, UIW went on a 15 point scoring streak to take a 21-2 lead. The Cardinals would go on to win the set 25-5, and the match 3-0.
 
LEADERS
 
Autumn Lockley led the Cardinals with 14 kills and she also had 10 digs while Bryaunea Hall finished with 10 kills and a .529 attacking percentage. Garza finished her last match at the McDermott Center with five kills and a team high 15 digs and fellow senior Claudia Hernandez finished with 14 digs. Madison Williams led UIW with 21 assists and Sierra Moses added 20.
 
Katelyn Elliott led McNeese with 12 kills and Alexandra Aguilera had a match high 27 assists. Bridget Justis finished with a team high 14 digs. The Cowgirls had 32 kills with a .073 attacking percentage.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Cardinals return to action next Thursday as they travel to Houston, TX to take on Houston Baptist at 7 p.m.