SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team faced two Southland Conference foes this past weekend, falling to Nicholls, 3-0, on Thursday, September 22 and the University of New Orleans (UNO) on Saturday, September 24 (3-2). On Monday (Sept. 26) the Cardinals lost 3-0 to the Demons of Northwestern State at the McDermott Convocation Center. 

UIW vs Nicholls (0-3) 

In a match that went to three sets, Nicholls walked away with a win.  

After the Colonels broke out to an early lead 17-11, Annamarie Alvarez spiked a ball deep into Nicholls territory and gave UIW some much needed momentum. The Cardinals were stuck playing catch up and fell in the first, 25-19.  

In the second set, UIW came out with a new attitude. As points were traded back and forth almost the entire set, the largest lead either team held wasn't more than three points. Kills by Kyla Malone and errors from the Colonels feed into UIW's momentum as the Cardinals cut the lead to 18-21. Just as Risa Sena served over, and Nicholls was at 23, another set up by Natalie Kimmel was spiked down by Malone. Mariela Nieto then had a service ace and UIW was down by one. In the end, the Colonels came back and took the set 25-23.  

UIW started out the set hot. The Cardinals were up 15-12 after a nice ace by Kyla Malone. Back-to-back points were taken by the Cardinals as Sena slammed the ball and Nicholls suffered another attack error. Small errors were made by UIW and Nicholls then took the lead 23-22. Malone entered another kill for the Cardinals, but the Colonels took the game 24-23.  

Alvarez led the Cardinals with 11 kills on the game. Closely behind her was Sena (nine kills) and Malone (nine kills) as Taylor Stoops recorded 21 assists. Jacqueline Arrington tallied four blocks as Alvarez chipped in three of her own as well.  

UIW vs UNO (2-3) 

In one of the most thrilling games of the year, the Cardinals fell short against the Privateers in a five-set match that was nothing short of a battle.  

UIW took an early lead in the first set after three errors caught up to UNO and set up the score 8-5. The Privateers came back to take the lead and win the set. UIW did not play around in the third.  

The Cardinals took the lead early in the third after a triple of kills from Allison Palmi, Sena, and Malone. Arrington also chipped in a few of her own and the Cardinals were up 16-10 in no time. Just a few points later, back-to-back blocks from the dynamic duo of Finely Evans and Alvarez electrified the UIW offense and had everyone out of their seats. Those blocks set up a five-point streak for the Cardinals as they took the set 25-12 in an exhilarating fashion.  

UNO jumped out to an early lead in the fourth set and won, allowing them to extend the game to a fifth set. In the fifth set the match went exactly how the whole game had gone before. Both teams were not backing down as points were traded between the two the Cardinals and Privateers. Arrington lit up the floor as she killed a ball from Stoops and the Cardinals took the lead 10-9. The race to 15 extended to 16 as it was neck and neck. A call from the referee on UIW unfortunately closed out the game as UNO took the match 3-2. 

For the Cardinals, Arrington led all attacks with 13 kills and four blocks. Malone followed behind with 12 kills of her own and Sena chipped in with 10. Nieto also had a great game as she notched two aces, seven assists, and 22 digs. Kimmel and Stoops combined for the rest of UIW's 53 assists. At the end of the game, the Cardinals tallied more kills (56) and assists (53) than the Privateers but suffered more errors. 

UIW vs NSU (3-0) 

The Cardinals faced the Demons Monday night in another Southland Conference showdown.  

After an early back and forth in the set, NSU took the lead 10-8. The Cardinals quickly answered back with a deep kill from Alvarez. UIW then caused an attack error and tied the game up at 10. The Cardinals came within four points, but the Demons took the first set 25-20. 

In the second the Cardinals took an early 4-3 lead after scoring three unanswered points. During the run, Stoops switched roles for a monster kill through the middle after a setup from Nieto. The Demons answered back, but a kill form Sena started another Cardinal run which led them to a 13-9 lead. Later on, big blocks from Thomas and Malone helped the Cardinals, but NSU momentum was too much. The Demons won the set 25-22. 

Malone took over the third for the Cardinals as she tallied six kills in the set. The game was much like the first set as points were traded between the two teams. NSU took a small lead as the score hit 21-18, but Sena slammed a ball into the left side to help UIW come back. The Cardinals were able to bring the score to 21-22, but the Demons held tight to their lead and won 25-22.  

Sena led both teams, tallying 13 kills for the night. Malone also contributed a double- double as she had 12 kills and 11 digs. Defensively, Kade Thomas led UIW with four blocks.  

FOLLOW ALONG  
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--UIW CARDINALS--