SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team looks to continue its hot start in conference play after going 2-0 last week in a reverse sweep of SLC leader Stephen F. Austin and a three-set sweep of Lamar. The Cardinals will host Southeastern for its annual Pink Out game on Saturday before traveling to New Orleans on Saturday.
The Cardinals' performance last week earned two Southland Player of the Week honors. For the second time this season, Ashton Rogers was named the SLC Defensive Player of the Week, while Calissa Allison won her first Setter of the Week award of the season, the conference announced Monday morning.
Rogers, who also received the honor on Sept. 28, earned the second conference award of her career after combining for 39 digs and 14 assists, averaging 4.88 digs per set over two matches.
In the reverse sweep of SFA, Allison posted 14 kills, 31 assists and 16 digs for her 14th career triple-double, becoming just the second player in the conference to record the feat this season. She followed with nine kills, 14 assists and 10 digs against Lamar, recording her 10th double-double of the season in the three-set match.
Lilly Roach had a career weekend for the Cardinals offensively, recording a career-high 17 kills on Thursday before adding 10 kills in the victory over Lamar. The performance marked the first time in her career that she recorded double-digit kills in consecutive matches. Roach averaged 3.38 kills per set while hitting .389, committing just six errors on 54 total attacks.
Here's a look at the Cardinals slate this week as they welcome Southeastern before closing the week in New Orleans.
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA (8-11, 5-1 Southland)
WHEN AND WHERE: Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m., McDermott Center (San Antonio, Texas)
ABOUT THE LIONS: Southeastern has dropped just one conference match this season, tying UIW and SFA for second place in the standings. The Lions' lone loss came against SFA in their conference opener, when the Lumberjacks swept them. Southeastern enters the matchup on a five-match winning streak after going 2-0 last week, defeating McNeese in four sets before sweeping Nicholls. Gracie Brown was tabbed SLC Offensive Player of the Week after tallying 22 kills, 13 blocks, 38 points, eight aces, and seven digs. It's the second week in a row Southeastern has been awarded Offensive Player of the Week, with Kyra McKelvey receiving the honor last week.
MATCHUP HISTORY: Southeastern leads the all-time series against UIW, 11-7, and has won the last six meetings between the teams. The Cardinals last beat the Lions in 2022 after a 3-1 win in San Antonio.
NEW ORLEANS (2-17, 0-6 Southland)
WHEN AND WHERE: Saturday, Oct. 17 at 1 p.m., Human Performance Center (New Orleans, La.)
ABOUT THE PRIVATEERS: New Orleans is still searching for its first conference win and looks to snap an eight-game losing streak. They dropped two home matches last week, falling 3-1 to both McNeese and Nicholls. Their only two wins on the season have come against Alcorn State and Cal State Fullerton. Offensively, Armie Hall leads the Privateers with 229 kills while hitting .271 on the season. Hall ranks fifth in the Southland Conference in kills per set (3.37) and sixth in points per set (3.71). Defensively, Mia Lopez ranks ninth in the conference with 3.99 digs per set.
MATCHUP HISTORY: UIW leads the all-time series, 11-6, over New Orleans. The Cardinals are on a two-game winning streak, sweeping the Privateers in their last two matchups.
FOLLOW ALONG
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