NACOGDOCHES, TX – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team is set to participate in the Holiday Inn-Express SFA Volleyball Invitational starting Thursday on the campus of Stephen F. Austin. The Cardinals kick-off the tournament on Thursday night at 6:30 P.M. against Stephen F. Austin and conclude the final tournament of the season with two matches on Friday starting at 11:00 a.m. against North Texas followed by the final match against Little Rock at 4:00 p.m. in Shelton Gym.
Last week, the Cardinals (4-6, 1-0) went 2-1 in the UIW Cardinal Classic and picked up victories against Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern. So far on the season, the UIW attack is averaging 11.1 kills per set with a .183 attacking percentage and they are led by
Autumn Lockley (Leander, TX/ Leander) who is averaging a team high 3.75 kills per set with a .248 hitting percentage.
Bryaunea Hall (Copperas Cove, TX/ Copperas Cove) will also factor into the Cardinal's attack as she is averaging 2.13 kills per set while
Madison Williams (New Braunfels, TX/ Canyon) is leading the Cardinals with 7.94 assists per set.
Shaina Garza (San Antonio, TX/ Warren) is leading the UIW defense, which is averaging 12.7 digs per set as a team. Garza is averaging 2.88 digs per set and
Sarea Alexander (San Antonio, TX/ MacArthur) is leading the team with 0.94 blocks per set.
Stephen F. Austin enters the matchup with the Cardinals with a 5-5 record and they are currently on a two match-losing streak. The Ladyjacks are averaging 10.3 kills per set with a .130 attacking percentage and their attack is led by Abby McIntyre and Justice Walker who are averaging 2.19 and 1.74 kills respectively. Shannon Connell leads the Ladyjacks with 5.00 assists per set while Lexus Cain is the teams top defensive threat as she is averaging 5.84 digs per set. Last season, the Ladyjacks went 1-1 against the Cardinals and the two teams last met on November 14
th.
North Texas has started out the season with a 4-7 record and the Mean Green have struggled away from home with a 0-3 record. Last week, North Texas hosted the North Texas Invitational where they went 2-1 with victories over UL-Lafayette and Indiana Sate. As a team, the Mean Green are averaging 12.74 kills per set with a .181 attacking percentage. Aman Chamberlain leads the North Texas attack with 2.83 kills per set and a .378 attacking percentage. Amy Henard and Karley York will direct the Mean Green attack and they are both averaging over four assists per set while Lekal Kiner-Falefa leads the defense with 3.16 digs per set.
Little Rock currently has a record of 3-7 and they are on a two match losing streak after losses to Baylor and #13 Florida State. The Trojans are averaging 10.0 kills per set and they have an attacking percentage of .171. Little Rock is averaging 3.5 blocks per set, which is one of the team's major strengths. Veronica Marin leads the Trojans attack with 2.39 kills per set and Marina Avram will also be a factor for the Trojans attack with 2.15 kills per set and a .156 hitting percentage. Sydnee Martin leads the Little Rock defense as she is averaging 3.37 digs per set while Carolee Dillard is averaging a team best 1.83 blocks per set.
