HOUSTON – University of the Incarnate Word traveled to Houston, Texas to begin the second round of Southland Conference play against Houston Baptist University (HBU) on Thursday, October 21. The Cardinals fell to the Huskies 3-1 in a close matchup with 22 tied scores.
 
Bethany Clapp led the Cardinals with 21 total kills followed by Allison Palmi with 11. Jacqueline Arrington led the Cardinals at the net with 5 blocks, Clapp followed with a season high of 3 blocks in this match. Macy Sumrall led the defense with 20 digs. Natalie Martin set up the Cardinal offense with 25 assists followed by Natalie Kimmel's 18 assists.
 
The Huskies of HBU took the first match by a close score of 25-23.
 
The Cardinals answered back securing the second set 25-18. Clapp led the offense with six kills in this set. Followed by Chase Jackson, Palmi and Arrington all contributing to the explosive offense. Jackson, Arrington, Annamarie Alvarez and Nailah Landon all registered a block in this set to stop the Huskies offense. The Cardinals went on an early 4-0 scoring run to take the lead 5-3. The Cardinals and Huskies exchanged points back and forth until two kills in a row from Clapp extended the Cardinal lead to 16-9 forcing an HBU timeout. A big block from Alvarez and Clapp ended the set giving the advantage to the Cardinals.
 
The Huskies went on to secure the next two sets 26-24 and 25-16.
 
"Tonight's match was another tough one for us," said head coach Samantha Dabbs Thomas. "We have to keep playing through the rallies and executing plays when we are trying to close out a match. There was some good volleyball played tonight on both sides."
 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals travel to Lake Charles, Louisiana to face McNeese for the second time this season. The match is set for Saturday, October 23 at 1 p.m.
 
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.