SAN ANTONIO- The University of the Incarnate Word women's volleyball team faced tough opponents at home this weekend. In a thrilling match on Thursday night (Oct. 27) the Cardinals took home the win after beating Lamar University. On Saturday, (Oct.30) UIW fell short in a gritty match against the Lions of Texas A&M University - Commerce (TAMUC).
UIW vs Lamar (3-1)
In the four-set match, UIW walked away with a win.
The Cardinals started off strong as Kyla Malone swiped two kills to give UIW a 7-4 lead. Risa Sena put one down and started a Cardinal run to take the lead 17-16. When it came down to the final points of the set, Taylor Stoops switched positions to spike the ball and tie the score at 19-19. After a bit of back and forth, UIW took the set 25-23.
In a dominating fashion, UIW broke out to an early lead and won the second set 25-21. In the third, the set went to 28 points as Lamar barely slipped the win through the hands of UIW.
UIW was looking for redemption in the fourth. The Beaumont Cardinals took an early 3-0 lead, but there were no signs of UIW backing down. Annamarie Alvarez fired a kill down the right side of the court to give the Cardinals their first points of the match. Another kill from Sena came for UIW's second point, and the momentum of the set shifted. The Cardinals went on a tough run to take the lead 5-4. Malone and Alvarez were putting in work as their constant attacks put pressure on Lamar. Jacqueline Arrington slammed down a kill to take the Cardinals to match point and a kill by Sena solidified the game.
UIW vs TAMUC (0-3)
The Cardinals suffered a loss against the Lions in three sets during Saturday's Dig Pink game.
In the first, points were tossed back and forth throughout the whole set. In some of the longest rallies seen all season, the longest lead either team held was four points. UIW took the first two points as Sena spiked a ball deep into the right side and Mercedez Lara served an ace. TAMUC came back to take the lead but back-to-back points from the Cardinals off kills by Arrington and Malone tied up the score at 14. As TAMUC gained some steam, an attack error on the Lions gave the Cardinals another chance. In the end, the Lions took the match 25-22.
In the second, TAMUC connected on a lot of plays. The Cardinals played tough but lost 25-14.
In the third, UIW caught some much-needed momentum. The Lions held the lead early, but after a powerful kill by Malone to make the game 10-14, the Cardinals scored four unanswered points to cut the lead to one. Deep into the third, Allison Palmi connected with Natalie Kimme to once again rejuvenate the Cardinals. Just as TAMUC had entered the twenties, Malone and Kade Thomas brought in a triple of kills to tie the score at 21. Little mistakes by the Cardinals caught up to them in the end and allowed the Lions to win 25-23.
Malone led all teams with 15 kills and Sena followed behind her with six. Thomas played hard for UIW recording five kills, a block and an ace. Audrey Patton also contributed an ace with her two assists and 10 digs.
UIW plays again Tuesday (Nov. 1) night at 6 p.m. for the last game of their three day homestand.
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 @UIWVolleyball and on Instagram @uiw_volleyball.
--UIW CARDINALS-
