SAN ANTONIO – Under second year head coach Gabryel Ording the University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team finished its historic season with the most wins overall (17) and the most conference wins (10) in a single season since turning Division I in 2013. The Cardinals also made the semifinals of the Southland Conference Tournament for the first time since 2021.
UIW played its entire non-conference schedule away from home, finishing a stellar 7-3. The Cardinals kicked off the 2024 campaign with a loss to newly added conference foe SFA. Following the loss UIW went on a five-match winning streak that included a tournament win at the UTSA Invitational where the Cardinals bested its crosstown rival for the first time in program history.
Following a hot start the Cardinals started conference play with losses at East Texas A&M, at SLU and against UTRGV. UIW got back in the win column with back-to-back wins against Northwestern State and Houston Christian Univesrity. Following a home loss to SFA the Cardinals went on its second five match winning streak of the season. The winning streak was capped off with a five-set thriller against the eventual SLC champions TAMCC. The win was UIW's first win over the Islanders in program history. Ording and the Cardinals went 3-3 in its final six conference matches of the regular season to clinch the fifth seed in the SLC Tournament.
The fifth seeded Cardinals were tabbed to take on the fourth seeded Vaqueros in the quarterfinals. UTRGV swept UIW in both regular season matchups, however, the Cardinals were not fazed, and they defeated the Vaqueros in four sets to move on to the semifinals for the first time since 2021. UIW would fall to SLU in four sets, ending the program's historic season.
Calissa Allison was the Cardinals' lone All-Conference selection. The setter from Pflugerville was named to the All-Conference first team after she led the Cardinals in kills (276), points (318), and service aces (24). Allison also finished second on the team in assists (494) and digs (299). The freshman Co-captain finished the season with 11 triple-doubles, good enough for second in the country. Allison's 11 triple-doubles were the most in school history in a single season, the most in the SLC in a single season, and the second most by a freshman in NCAA history.
The Cardinals trio of seniors left their mark on the program in their final season at The Word. Co-captain Risa Sena finished third on the team in kills with 247. Although she missed some time due to injury, Sena still led the team in k/s with 2.94. Anuhea Faitau and Audrey Patton led the Cardinals in assists and digs respectively with 516 and 324.
Juniors Kade Thomas and Finley Evans played major roles in UIW's success. Thomas led the team in blocks (109) and hitting percentage (.343). Evans finished second on the team in kills with 258. Evans also finished top five on the team in service aces (14), digs (271), and blocks (40). Evans had a stellar SLC Tournament recording 26 kills, 25 digs, and six blocks in two matches to be named to the SLC All-Tournament team.
In two seasons Ording has an overall record of 32-27 and two trips to the conference tournament. The Cardinals look to retool and rebuild in the offseason to continue taking the program to new heights.
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