EDINBURG, TX – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team dropped a four-set match to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) on Thursday evening at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. Despite recording more kills, more blocks, a higher hitting percentage, and fewer errors, the Cardinals came up short against the Vaqueros. 

Set 1: UIW 24, UTRGV 26 
The opening set was a tight battle, with the Cardinals and Vaqueros trading points and neither side leading by more than two. A UTRGV attack error brought the score even at 24-24, but the Vaqueros responded with back-to-back points to claim the set. 

Set 2: UIW 25, UTRGV 24 
Set two was another tightly contested battle, with both teams' largest leads capped at three points. The Cardinals closed the frame on a 3-0 run, scoring the final three points to even the match at one set apiece. 

Set 3: UIW 23, UTRGV 25 
The third set followed the same competitive pattern, as UIW built a 13-9 lead before UTRGV rallied with multiple runs. The Vaqueros finished strong, using a late 2-0 push to claim the set and move ahead two sets to one. 

Set 4: UIW 24, UTRGV 26 

The final set mirrored the intensity of the previous frames, with UIW holding a 19-15 advantage before UTRGV stormed back on a 6-0 run. The Cardinals fought off match point to tie things at 24-all, but the Vaqueros held firm to take the final two points and secure the victory. 

The Cardinals had a season-high four players reach double-digit kills. Kyla Malone led the attack with 19 kills, while Finley Evans added 11 and Kitana Tu'ufuli and Kade Thomas chipped in 11 and 10, respectively. Setter Calissa Allison tallied her 18th double-double of the season, finishing with a team-high 44 assists and 17 digs. Defensively, Ashton Rogers anchored the back row with 23 digs, and Vanessa Eregie controlled the net with a team-best six blocks. 

UIW continues its South Texas swing on Saturday afternoon, traveling to Texas A&M–Corpus Christi. First serve is scheduled for noon at the Dugan Wellness Center. 

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--UIW CARDINALS--