SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team begins the final week of the regular season this week, hosting UTRGV on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. before facing off against Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. for Senior Day.
The Cardinals continued their win streak this past week, extending their run to seven consecutive conference victories. UIW sits at the top of the Southland Conference standings with Southeastern Louisiana and SFA, who are also on a seven-game win streak. All three teams enter the final two matches of league play with identical 12-2 conference records.
Incarnate Word is coming off a sweep of Houston Christian at home, defeating the Huskies at home in five sets on Wednesday. Calissa Allison recorded her fifth triple-double of the season at home against the Huskies with 11 kills and 17 assists while adding 10 digs in just three sets. Her numbers earned her her third Southland Conference weekly award, taking home Setter of the Week for the second time this season.
The Cardinals also put together a strong defensive showing, holding HCU below a .100 hitting percentage in both matches last week. In Houston, UIW recorded a season-best 17 blocks as a team, while four Cardinals finished with double-digit digs.
UTRGV (14-11, 10-4 Southland)
WHEN AND WHERE: Thursday, Nov. 12, at 6:00 p.m., McDermott Center (San Antonio, Texas)
ABOUT THE VAQUEROS: UTRGV is coming off a two-match skid, dropping matches against East Texas A&M and Northwestern State last week. It marked the first time the Vaqueros have suffered back-to-back conference losses this season. UTRGV was at the top of the standings for much of the season, before its recent losses slipped the team into fourth. The duo of Ema Petkovic and Martina Franco remain a threat at the net, ranking second and third, respectively, in the conference in kills per set. Petkovic has 221 kills on the season, leading the conference, averaging 4.63 points per set. The Vaqueros' setter, Lana Rnjak, also leads the conference in assists, averaging 9.91 per set.
MATCHUP HISTORY: UTRGV leads the all-time series, 20-8, against the Cardinals. The Vaqueros are on a three-match win streak, defeating UIW earlier this season 3-1 in Edinburg.
TEXAS A&M-CC (9-16, 7-7 Southland)
WHEN AND WHERE: Saturday, Nov. 14, at 11:00 a.m., McDermott Center (San Antonio, Texas)
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS: TAMUCC is coming off a split week, defeating Northwestern State, 3-1, at home before falling, 3-1, to East Texas A&M on Saturday. The Islanders currently sit tied for fifth with McNeese in the Southland Conference standings at 7-7, putting them in position to secure a tournament spot. They are one of the conference's most efficient hitting teams, ranking third with 12.82 kills per set and second with a .225 hitting percentage. Erin Herrmann leads the conference in hitting percentage at .365, with 104 kills on the season.
MATCHUP HISTORY: The Islanders lead the all-time series, 21-5, against the Cardinals. Three of UIW's five wins in the series have come in the last two years, with the Cardinals' last win coming via a sweep on the road this 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.
