SAN ANTONIO- The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team fell to New Orleans in the first round of the Southland Conference Tournament on Thursday night. In the heated five-set match, the Privateers took the win after a late surge, 3-2.  

The Cardinals finished the season with a 15-16 record. In a record-breaking fashion, the 2023 team earned the most wins in a season in UIW Volleyball history. It was also the first time since 2009 that the team started 5-0 to begin the season. The Cardinals also capped off the season with 1,434 kills, the second-highest number since turning Division I in 2013. This was all in Head Coach Gabby Ording's first year.  

UIW vs UNO (2-3) 

In the final match of the year, the Cardinals came out strong but made small mistakes that caught up to them in the end. Winning sets one and two by an average of four points and losing the second and third by an average of two, UIW had the upper hand going into the fifth set. The Privateers hit 64 percent from the net in the final set compared to UIW's 56 percent, which created the momentum shift in the end. 

In a fitting way, senior Allison Palmi led the Cardinals with 20 kills to tie her season-high. In addition, Palmi added 12 digs to her stat sheet. Kyla Malone also finished the match with 20 kills to match her career-high. The sophomore additionally had six digs, an ace, and a block. As the sophomore is barely in her second year of eligibility, she's proven to be an exciting player to watch and one to look out for in two years.  

Mariela Nieto and Audrey Patton combined for 39 of UIW's 77 digs. The senior libero from Puerto Rico also helped the Cardinals offensively with nine assists to her name.  

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--