SAN ANTONIO – University of the Incarnate Word falls 3-2 to Houston Baptist University on Thursday, October 14, 2021.
 
Risa Sena (16) and Allison Palmi (15) led the Cardinal offense combining for 31 kills. Natalie Kimmel (24) and Natalie Martin (20) set up the Cardinal offense combining for 44 assists on the match. Macy Sumrall led the Cardinals at the service line registering two service aces. Sumrall also led the Cardinal defense with 18 total digs. Audrey Patton (11) and Martin (14) followed closing behind combining for 25 digs. Palmi led the Cardinals at the net with 1.5 total blocks on the night. The Cardinals registered eight total team blocks.
 
"Tonight's loss was super tough on us as a team. Even though it didn't go as we wanted, I think we still did a lot of really great things that will prepare us for our upcoming matches," said Palmi. "We're looking forward to another great opportunity on Saturday and will use our match tonight to get better."  
 
The Cardinals fell to the Huskies 3-2. This match consisted of 45 tied scores and 18 lead changes in nail bitter of a conference matchup.  
 
The Huskies came out strong in the first set to ultimately securing the win 25-17.
 
The Cardinals answered right back in the second set outscoring the Huskies 16-14 in kills. Chase Jackson, Palmi and Sena led the Cardinals combining for 12 kills. Jacqueline Arrington started the set with a big-time solo block against the Huskies strong offense. Jackson and Sena had back-to-back kills to extend the Cardinal lead to 17-14. The offense from Nailah Landon, Sena Palmi and Jackson secured the second set for the Cardinals, tying the match at one set a piece.
 
The Cardinals continued the momentum into the third set. Sena and Palmi lead the Cardinal offense again combining for eight kills. This was a big set defensively for the Cardinals, with five of the seven players totaling two or more digs. The Cardinals outscored the Huskies in kills, 12-11. Sumrall, Martin and Sena all registered a service ace on the set. The Cardinals started with a kill from Arrington. The Cardinals went on a 4-0 scoring run to tie the set at 16. Another kill by Arrington gave the Cardinals the lead and forced a Huskie timeout. A service ace from Sena and a final hard kill from Palmi led the Cardinals to victory in the third set.
 
The Huskies took the final two sets, 25-22, 15-10, in a close back-and-forth battle.
 
"HBU is a great team, they are a phenomenal blocking team and they really challenged us offensively," said head coach Samantha Dabbs Thomas. "I'm proud of the fight tonight and taking them to five sets is a good step in the direction we want to go in, but it wasn't enough tonight. We have another tough match Saturday against McNeese that is going to be another battle and this match tonight got us ready for it."
 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals host McNeese on Saturday, October 16 at 2 p.m. to conclude their homestand. The last time these two programs met, the Cardinals swept McNeese 3-0 at home.
 
The best way to experience Cardinal Volleyball is by purchasing tickets through the UIW ticket office. Fans can purchase tickets online at www.uiwcardinals.com/tickets or by calling the UIW ticket office directly at 210-805-3000.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visit uiwcardinals.com, follow the Cardinals on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook. 
Follow the team on Twitter @UIWVolleyballl and on Instagram @uiw_volleyball.