SAN ANTONIO -- After splitting its week two matches, the University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team will visit Southland leader Stephen F. Austin on Thursday before facing Lamar on Saturday.
The Cardinals moved to 5-8 overall and 3-1 in conference play, suffering a 3-1 loss on the road at UTRGV before bouncing back with a sweep over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to hand the Islanders their first conference loss of the season.
In the win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, senior outside hitter Kitana Tu'ufuli surpassed 1,000 career kills in the second set. She led all players with 13 kills in the match as the Cardinals earned the sweep.
Here's a look at the Cardinals' opponents this week as they continue their road swing.
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (10-7, 4-0 Southland)
WHEN AND WHERE: Thursday, Oct. 8 at 12 p.m., Shelton Gym (Nacogdoches, Texas)
ABOUT THE LUMBERJACKS: SFA sits atop the Southland Conference standings with a 10-7 overall record and remains perfect in conference play at 4-0. Three of SFA's four conference wins have come via sweep, with the Lumberjacks dropping just one set in a 3-1 victory over McNeese. SFA also leads the conference in points, hitting percentage, assists and kills. Middle blocker Jordan Henderson was named the Southland Defensive Player of the Week after leading the Lumberjacks with 12 blocks in their sweep of Nicholls.
MATCHUP HISTORY: Stephen F. Austin leads the all-time series, 13-3, over the Cardinals. The two teams last met in the 2025 SLC Semifinals, where the Lumberjacks swept UIW to advance to the championship match. However, the Cardinals handed SFA its only conference loss during the 2025 regular season.
LAMAR (4-13, 1-3)
WHEN AND WHERE: Saturday, Oct. 10 at 11 a.m., McDonald Gym (Beaumont, Texas)
ABOUT THE CARDINALS: Lamar will host Houston Christian before welcoming Incarnate Word on Saturday, entering this week's slate after being swept in its last two matches by Nicholls and McNeese. Lamar's lone conference win came in a 3-0 decision over LSU New Orleans, marking its first conference-opening victory since Sept. 25, 2018, against Incarnate Word. Lamar is led by outside hitter Maja Malinowska, who leads the team and ranks seventh in the Southland Conference with 182 kills and 204 points. She ranks second in the conference with 3.43 kills per set while averaging 2.62 digs per set and recording seven double-doubles this season.
MATCHUP HISTORY: UIW leads the all-time series, 14-4, over Lamar. The two teams also met in the 2025 SLC Conference Championships for the opening round, where Incarnate Word swept Lamar, 3-0, to advance. In the regular season, Lamar took the 3-1 victory at home. Before their win in 2025 at home, UIW was on an eight-game win streak over Lamar.
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.
