NEW ORLEANS – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team won its second game in a row in Louisiana against New Orleans in the fourth set on Thursday evening inside the Human Performance Center. 

"Tonight was a must-win for us to keep us in the running for the postseason," said head coach Samantha Dabbs Thomas. "I thought our offense started off slow but made some adjustments and got better towards the end."

"I'm very proud of the team for pulling out set two with a 6-0 run. Our focus now is on a very good team SLU that is on a roll and going to be very tough at their place."

It was a back-and-forth battle to start the match as the score was tied nine times through the first half of the first set. With the score, 14-14, the Cardinals began to pull away on a 3-0 run highlighted by a big block by Annamarie Alvarez and Chase Jackson to shut down the Privateers. UIW would go on to win the first set 25-19.

The Cardinals were off to a rough start in the second set getting behind early on. UNO was ahead 23-19, but UIW lit up the court with a 6-0 run to pull ahead. 

Alvarez had a kill down the middle that was immediately followed up by a kill from Jackson that landed behind the Privateer defense to tie up the score, 23-23. Audrey Patton had two big digs on the next rally that eventually Jackson closed out with a kill to take the lead for the first time. 

UNO tried to make a comeback tying the game 25-all, but UIW held on to win the second set, 27-25. 

The Privateers opened the third set on a 4-1 run to pull ahead early and take the third set 25-15. 

UNO opened the fourth set on an 8-3 run that put UIW on its heels early in the set. With the score 10-5, the Cardinals took off on a 6-2 run to close the gap. The score was tied three more times, but two kills by Allison Palmi and one by Jackson and the red and black had built some distance. UIW built on that lead iced by a kill from Bethany Clapp landing in the back left corner to get its largest lead, 25-19, in the final stretch. UIW held on to win the fourth set, 25-20, and taking the match. 

The Cardinals are now on a two-game winning streak in Louisiana and close out the road trip on Saturday against Southeastern Louisiana at 11 a.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 UIW Volleyball on Twitter @UIWVolleyball and Instagram @UIW_Volleyball.