COMMERCE, TX – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team fell in straight sets to Stephen F. Austin on Saturday evening at the Field House, concluding its Southland Conference Tournament run in the semifinals for the second consecutive season.
Set 1: SFA 31, UIW 29
UIW and SFA traded points wire-to-wire in a highly competitive opening frame that featured 19 ties and eight lead changes. The Cardinals reached set point at 29-28, but the Ladyjacks responded with a 3-0 run to steal the set and take a 1–0 advantage.
Set 2: SFA 25, UIW 14
SFA controlled the second set from start to finish, as UIW was unable to gain a lead in the frame. The Ladyjacks used multiple scoring runs to extend their advantage and head into the third set up 2–0.
Set 3: SFA 25, UIW 19
The Cardinals kept the third set close with nine ties and a late push that brought the score to 21-19. However, another timely 4-0 run by SFA closed out the match and ended UIW's postseason run.
UIW had three attackers finish in double figures. Kyla Malone paced the Cardinals with 15 kills, while Kade Thomas and Kitana Tu'ufuli added 10 kills apiece. Setter Calissa Allison notched her 23rd double-double of the season with a match-high 33 assists and 14 digs. Ashton Rogers anchored the back row with 15 digs, and Vanessa Eregie contributed three blocks at the net.
Malone was named to the Southland Conference All-Tournament Team after totaling 34 kills and 18 digs across the Cardinals' two tournament matches. She averaged 5.7 kills and 3.0 digs per set while hitting .288 for the tournament. With her performance, Malone became just the third Cardinal in program history to surpass 1,000 career kills and climbed to second on UIW's Division I all-time career kills list.
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--UIW CARDINALS--
