Box Score NACOGDOCHES, TX – It was a difficult start to the Holiday Inn-Express SFA Invitational for the University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team as they dropped the tournament opener to Stephen F. Austin 3-0: 25-15, 25-18, 25-13 on Thursday evening in Shelton Gym.
The Cardinal's (4-7, 1-1) attack struggled for most of the match posting 27 total kills and a .102 hitting percentage as a team.
Bryaunea Hall (Copperas Cove, TX/ Copperas Cove) led the Cardinals with eight kills and a .263 attacking percentage for the match.
Autumn Lockley (Leander, TX/ Leander) added seven kills and she also had eight digs defensively.
In the first set, UIW had 12 kills while the Ladyjacks (6-5, 1-0) countered with 14 kills and a .343 attacking percentage. Abby McIntyre and KK Payne led the Ladyjacks attack in the first set as the duo combined for six kills.
After falling behind early in the second set, the Cardinals showed resiliency after they battled back to within four points at 20-16, although UIW would fall 25-18 to go down 2-0 in the match. Lockley led the Cardinals with three kills and the team had a .200 hitting percentage.
Needing to win the third set to prolong the match, the Cardinals came out focused. It was tied 8-8 early, but the Ladyjacks took control midway through the set going on a nine point run to take a 20-9 lead, from which UIW could not recover. Stephen F. Austin would go on to win the set 25-13 and win the match 3-0. The Cardinals attack posted five kills for the final set and they could not overcome a -.029 attacking percentage.
Madison Williams (New Braunfels, TX/ Canyon) led the Cardinals with 14 assists and
Sierra Moses (Austin, TX/ Panola JC) added nine assists.
Shaina Garza (San Antonio, TX/ Marshall) paced the UIW defense with 11 of the team's 39 digs. For the Ladyjacks, McIntyre led the attack with 11 kills and a .429 attacking percentage while Lexus Cain led the defense with 11 digs.
The Cardinals continue the Holiday Inn-Express SFA Invitational tomorrow with two matches starting at 11 a.m. against North Texas and concluding against Little Rock at 4 p.m. in Shelton Gym.
