SAN ANTONIO - The University of the Incarnate Word women's volleyball team capped off a weekend of games with a win. After losing against Texas A&M University-Commerce (TAMUC) on Thursday (Sept. 29) the Cardinals came back to win against Lamar University in three sets on Saturday, Oct. 1. 

UIW vs. TAMUC (1-3) 

Thursday night was nothing short of a battle between the Cardinals and Lions. 

TAMUC opened the first set on a roll, taking a nine-point lead (12-3) over UIW. Jacqueline Arrington and Kyla Malone answered back with fiery kills to bring the Cardinals within five. Another kill by Risa Sena cut the lead to four before the Lions took the first set 25-14.  

In the second set, the Cardinals took an early 3-0 lead as Taylor Stoops was on the serve. Two of the points were earned by kills off Sena and an ace from Stoops wrapped up for three. Throughout the set, points were traded back and forth between the two, but TAMUC found some momentum as they took a two-point lead, but after a service error cost them a point, the Cardinals took over. UIW forced the Lions to make over five errors in the last nine points of the game as UIW won the second set, 26-24.  

In the third and fourth sets, TAMUC took early leads that they maintained throughout both sets. The Cardinals found a breakthrough stride in the fourth, but it wasn't enough to come back for the win. The Lions eventually took sets three and four and won the game 4-1. Sena led UIW with 11 kills on the game. Alvarez (8) and Allison Palmi (7) followed behind her. Stoops was all over the floor as she contributed four aces, two blocks, 10 digs, and 29 assists. Audrey Patton led the team defensively with 21 digs. 

UIW vs. Lamar (3-0) 

UIW swept the Beaumont Cardinals in a three-set match at McDonald Gym on Saturday morning for the first conference win this season. 

UIW opened the first set going on a five-point run brought by three kills from Malone and two aces by Stoops. Lamar came back to tie the game at 12 after a UIW attack error. Just when the game was tied, UIW scored six unanswered points. Kade Thomas had a huge kill during the Cardinals' run that helped UIW to a 25-21 victory. 

The second set started off close as points were tossed back and forth. Momentum was slow for UIW, but a setup by Stoops and a slam by Sena propelled UIW to a 12-2 run. Malone and Alvarez were also on fire as the three accounted for half of the points scored during the run. Back-to-back plays by Arrington pushed the Cardinals to the 20's as they ultimately took the set 25-13.  

UIW was on a roll the entire match. Big leads were the name of the game for the Cardinals as they held off Lamar by more than 11 points in the second and third set. UIW tallied more aces in this game than we've seen all season which helped them in big pushbacks that were tried by Lamar. Stoops had three, Kade Thomas tallied two and Sena tabbed one of her own. Freshman Malone also had a big game with 12 kills, followed by Alvarez with 11. Along with some aces, Thomas earned herself a career-high five blocks. Arrington had four blocks and Alvarez finished with two. 

The Cardinals are back in action at home on Thursday (Oct. 6) night as they face the Huskies of Houston Christian University at 6 p.m.  

FOLLOW ALONG   
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--UIW CARDINALS--