SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team battled through five sets to defeat McNeese, 3-2, on Thursday night. The Cardinals recorded a season-high 73 kills while adding 11 aces and 83 digs. Calissa Allison led the way with her third triple-double of the season, finishing with 19 kills, 32 assists and 12 digs.
SET ONE: Incarnate Word jumped out to an early lead in the opening set and maintained control throughout. Kitana Tu'ufuli notched her third kill of the set to force a Cowgirl timeout before Sofia Grimm delivered three consecutive aces to send the Cardinals into the media timeout with a 15-5 advantage. The Cowgirls chipped away at the deficit, prompting UIW's first timeout at 20-15, but the Cardinals held on to claim the opening set, 25-19.
SET TWO: The Cardinals once again struck first, with Sofia Grimm recording her 200th career kill to give UIW the 7-4 lead. McNeese called a timeout trailing by five before rallying to even the score at 13. UIW continued to hold the advantage until the Cowgirls tied the set at 20 and took control from there, edging the Cardinals 25-23 to even the match at one set apiece.
SET THREE: The third set remained competitive, featuring five ties before the first media timeout. Coming out of the break, the Cardinals went on a 5-1 run sparked by a Tu'ufuli kill to build a 15-10 lead. UIW carried that momentum forward, extending its advantage to 19-12 and forcing a McNeese timeout. The Cardinals maintained control down the stretch, closing out the set 25-16 to take a 2-1 match lead.
SET FOUR: The fourth set featured five ties and two lead changes before the Cardinals pulled ahead 7-5. The Cardinals extended their advantage with a 4-0 run, leading 15-12 at the media timeout. Allison recorded her 10th dig of the match to secure her third triple-double of the season as UIW pushed its lead to 19-13. However, McNeese rallied to tie the set at 21, forcing a Cardinal timeout before closing out the set 25-22 to force a decisive fifth set.
SET FIVE: The Cardinals controlled the decisive fifth set from the start, building a 9-3 lead to force a McNeese timeout. Victoria Hall recorded two aces during a 6-1 UIW run as the Cardinals pulled away for a 15-6 set victory to secure the match.
NOTABLES:
- Grimm had a career night with 13 kills and four aces, recording her 200th career kill. She tied her career highs with six blocks and two assists, while adding six digs.
- Vanessa Eregie reached the 300-kill milestone, recording her 300th career kill on one of her 10 kills in the match.
- Allison recorded her third triple-double of the season and 16th of her career, finishing with 19 kills, 32 assists, and 12 digs.
- Hall and Allison both finished with 32 assists and two aces.
- Four Cardinals finished in double-digit kills and double-digit digs.
- The Cardinals recorded a single-match season high with 73 kills, while adding 11 aces and 83 digs, both their second-highest totals of the season.
FOLLOW ALONG
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visit uiwcardinals.com, follow the Cardinals on X @UIWAthletics, and on Instagram @uiw_athletics.
Follow the team on X @UIWVolleyball and on Instagram @uiw_volleyball.
