SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team is set to host the UIW Cardinals Classic starting on Friday at 11:00 a.m. against Prairie View A&M. The Cardinals will conclude Friday's action against Texas Southern at 5:00 p.m. and they will finish the tournament on Saturday with a matchup against Fresno State at 5:00 p.m. in the McDermott Center.
 
The tournament will be the first time the Cardinals (2-5, 1-0) have played at home this season and they went 5-3 at the McDermott Center last year. UIW currently sits atop the Southland Conference standings after an early season conference victory against Central Arkansas on September 1^st.
 
The Cardinals attack is currently producing 10.46 kills per set with a .156 attacking percentage. Autumn Lockley (Leander, TX/ Leander) leads the team with 3.43 kills per set and she was named to the All-Tournament Team for the Crain Automotive Invitational. Lockley is also averaging 2.65 digs per set while Shaina Garza (San Antonio, TX/ Warren) leads the team with 3.17 digs per set. Madison Williams (New Braunfels, TX/ Canyon) directs the Cardinal attack with 7.09 assists per set and Sarea Alexander (San Antonio, TX/ MacArthur) is the team's top blocking threat with 1.0 block per set.   
 
Prairie View A&M enters the UIW Cardinals Classic with a 0-4 record and the team is averaging 7.8 kills per set with a .053 attacking percentage. Larissa Martinez leads the Panther attack with 2.17 kills per set and Erica Jimenez is averaging 4.67 assists per set. Defensively, Christen Augustine leads the team with 3.33 digs per set.
 
Texas Southern is looking to snap a two match losing streak as they enter the tournament with a 2-5 record with victories over Lamar and North Carolina A&T. The Tiger attack is led by Kali Fluke who averages 2.85 kills per set with a .363 hitting percentage. As a team, Texas Southern is averaging 9.7 kills per set and both Asia Howard and Ellena Torres will direct the Tigers attack as they are averaging 3.32 and 2.95 assists per set respectively. Allison Woods leads the defense with 3.50 digs per set.
 
The Fresno State Bulldogs have early season victories over Boston College and LIU Brooklyn and enter Friday's action with a 5-2 record. The Bulldogs have a perfect 3-0 record away from home although they are on a two match-losing streak. Fresno State's attack is averaging 12.5 kills per set while their opponents are averaging 10.7 kills per set. Aleisha Coates is the team's biggest offensive threat averaging 3.38 kills per set while Madelyn Halteman leads the team with 9.46 assists per set. On the defensive side, Maggie Eppright leads the Bulldogs with 3.58 digs per set.

The classic will also include non-UIW games friday at 2:00 p.m. betwen Fresno State and Texas Southern and Saturday at 11:00 a.m. between Fresno State and Prairie View A&M and 2:00 p.m. between Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern. Tickets will be valid for the entire day, while 2-day passes will also be available.

To follow the action live, be sure to click on the live stats link on the schedule or follow the Cardinals on Twitter @UIWathletics.