SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team picked up its first home win of the young season in five sets against Nicholls on Saturday in the McDermott Center.  
 
UIW had an up and down game winning the first two sets but giving up the third and fourth sets. The Cardinals then wasted no time getting ahead in the fifth set for victory.  
 
Today our team fought hard against another hungry team. Our team stayed together the entire match, even when things weren't going our way, said head coach Samantha Dabbs Thomas.  
 
"We knew going into the 5th set that we needed to serve tougher which I thought Macy Sumrall came up big in the 5th set with her aggressive serving for us." 
 
The Cardinals claimed the first set, 25-19, off seven kills from Bethany Clapp and three apiece from Allison Palmi, Chase Jackson and Jacqueline Arrington.  
 
Palmi led the squad in the second set with seven kills while Arrington's four blocks helped on defense. Despite a closer score in the second set, UIW led for most of it only allowing Nicholls to tie the score three times, claiming the set, 25-22. 
 
The Cardinals looked to close out the match in the third set for a sweep but struggled against the Colonels' defense and .263 attack percentage. The set saw 11 ties each time as the Cardinals tried to come from behind. Ultimately, the Colonels took the set, 27-25. 
 
Once again, UIW tried to close out the game in the fourth set behind another seven-kill performance by Clapp. With the score tied 20-20, the Colonels took off on a 5-1 run to force the game into the fifth set.  
 
UIW went into the fifth set on a mission as they quickly jumped ahead 3-0. The Cardinals defended the lead with six clutch block assists to keep the Colonels at a distance and claim the fifth set 15-8 and the match.  
 

UP NEXT 

UIW is on the road for the next five games, starting with Houston Baptist on March 4 at 6:30 p.m. CT.
 

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 UIW Volleyball on Twitter @UIWVolleyball and Instagram @UIW_Volleyball.