SAN ANTONIO- The University of the Incarnate Word women's volleyball team participated in the Roadrunner Classic by Courtyard Marriot this weekend (Sept. 16-17) at the UTSA Convocation Center. The Cardinals faced strong opponents, Valparaiso University, UTSA, and Houston Baptist University (HBU).
UIW vs. Valparaiso University (2-3)
In the Cardinals' best outing this season, they fell just one game short of a win. With the Beacons coming into the tournament undefeated (9-0), UIW gave them a test in their first match of the classic.
Valparaiso took the first two sets, 25-15 for both, as the UIW struggled offensively. When down 18-15 in the third, the Cardinals turned a corner. After an attack error on the Beacons, Mariela Nieto went to serve. In a spew of eight unanswered points, the Cardinals rallied back to a 20-18-point lead. This was led by back-to-back kills from Allison Palmi and an ace by Nieto, along with errors by the Beacons. As the set went down to the wire, Risa Sena solidified the win for the Cardinals (25-22).
UIW went into the fourth set on a roll, stretching out the longest lead of the game, 16-7. As the Beacons struggled with the newfound momentum by the Cardinals, multiple errors stopped Valparaiso's small runs. Jacqueline Arrington also found her grove as she tallied five kills just in the fourth set. After leading 24-20, Palmi slammed a kill down onto the Beacon side to force a fifth set.
Valparaiso went on an early lead in the fifth set that lead to a Beacon victory, but the Cardinals played some of their best offense we've seen all season. Palmi set a new season high with 16 kills for the game. Sena (11 kills, 6 blocks) and Arrington (10 kills, 5 blocks) also had solid showings as Taylor Stoops held 30 of the 46 assists the Cardinals totaled defensively.
UIW vs. HBU (0-3)
In a sneak peek of a tough conference matchup, the Huskies nudged out the Cardinals to win the game in three sets.
After starting off down 4-0, UIW built momentum of a monster block from Alexis Walker and Finley Evans. HBU was able to answer back and take hold of the lead, but the Cardinals kept fighting. As they came back to tie the game at 13, they then took small leads as points were tossed back and forth. Kills by Palmi and Annamarie Alverez helped push the Cardinals out 21-19, but ultimately the Huskies were able to take the set 25-22.
In the second set, the Huskies started out hot as they stretched out a five-point lead over UIW. The Cardinals came clawing back as they went on a six-point run, led by the serve of Stoops. The run tied the game back at 12 but the Huskies went on a run of their own to win the game 25-16.
The third set tossed points early, but HBU kept a tight grip on the lead, going on to win the third set 25-13. Palmi and Alvarez accounted for 20 of UIW's 27 kills. Stoops had 3 aces and the trio of Walker, Evans, and Arrington had 2 blocks each.
UIW vs. UTSA (1-3)
In all four sets of the game, scores were tight. Though UIW came out strong to win the first set, the Roadrunners trailed back to take the last three.
The first five points of the first set were back and forth between the Cardinals and Roadrunners. A kill by Sena and errors from UTSA, helped the Cardinals maintain the lead. Arrington stepped up as she hit two kills late in the set for UIW and Alvarez secured the game after hitting a kill deep into Roadrunner territory.
The second set saw UTSA take an early four-point lead over the Cardinals. UIW was forced to play catchup as costly runs by UTSA were unanswered. Just as all momentum shifted to the Roadrunners, Walker killed it into UTSA territory and forced the pressure. Points were traded between the teams again, but UTSA took the set. The same story went in the third set as late attempts by Sena and the Cardinals weren't enough.
After winning the second and the third set, UTSA forced the game into a fourth set. An early lead by the Cardinals and back-to-back kills by Alvarez and Sena, put UIW on top for the beginning of the game. UTSA gained momentum late in the game and won the fourth 25-16.
Sena had a fantastic game with 17 kills and 3 blocks. Alvarez and Palmi followed behind her with 8 kills each. Walker and Arrington contributed five blocks individually and Stoops tallied 35 assists.
Palmi was named to the All-Tournament team as she finished the two days of play with a total of 38 kills and three aces.
The Cardinals return to action Thursday as they host Nicholls to start Southland Conference play at 6 p.m. at the McDermott Center.
FOLLOW ALONG
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--UIW CARDINALS--
