University of the Incarnate Word Athletics

BATON ROUGE, La. -- The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team battled LSU through four sets on Saturday night before falling to the Tigers, 3-1, at the Maravich Center.

SET ONE: Kitana Tu'ufuli started the Cardinals strong with back-to-back kills to open the set. LSU quickly seized the momentum, using a 5-0 run to take a 9-4 lead. Vanessa Ergie halted the run with her first kill of the match, but the Tigers maintained a seven-point advantage heading into the media timeout. UIW responded with a 3-0 run out of the break, cutting the deficit to three at 17-14. The teams traded points down the stretch, with Ergie adding two more kills to finish the set with a team-high six. LSU ultimately pulled away, taking the opening set, 25-20.

SET TWO: Much like the first set, the Cardinals jumped out to an early lead with a 4-0 run, but the Tigers quickly stormed back to tie the set at six. LSU continued to pull away, forcing UIW to call a timeout as the Tigers took a 10-6 lead. Victoria Hall reached double-digit assists as Alex Beauchamp got her fourth kill of the game to bring the score within three at 14-11. Gabby Fish then recorded her first collegiate kill to bring the deficit to one, before Calissa Allison came up with a big solo block to tie the set at 18. In a back-and-forth second set, the Cardinals continued to stay in it, pushing the set into extra points. Ergie sealed the comeback for UIW with an ace, giving the Cardinals a 27-25 victory in the second set. 

SET THREE: LSU responded quickly to the Cardinals' comeback, taking an early 8-2 lead in the third set. UIW battled back, cutting the deficit to four behind two kills from Tu'ufuli and Teddy Raye Ewers. Hall and Allison each recorded their 15th assists of the match, while Tu'ufuli reached double-digit kills. However, the Cardinals were unable to overcome the early deficit as LSU went on an 11-3 run to close out the set, taking the third 25-11.

SET FOUR: With the Cardinals looking to even the match at two sets apiece, they found themselves trailing early, 6-3. Allison continued to chip away at the Tigers' lead, recording another kill that took the score to 11-9. Hall then notched her 20th assist of the match to tie the game at 11. The Cardinals kept the set close, entering the media timeout trailing by two. Attacking service errors allowed LSU to extend its lead to 21-16. UIW battled back to bring it within three but ultimately fell in the fourth set, 25-19. 

NOTABLES

• Hall set a new career high with 20 assists, surpassing her previous mark of 19 set against UAlbany last season. It marked the second consecutive match Hall has recorded double-digit assists.

• Allison posted her first double-double of the season with 10 kills and 19 assists. She also added six digs and a team-leading two blocks.

• Teddy Rae Ewers reached double figures in digs, recording 12 in just her second collegiate match. She added five kills on the night.

• Two Cardinals recorded double-digit kills, led by Tu'ufuli with 12. Allison followed with 10 kills.

The Cardinals will return home to San Antonio for the UTSA Tournament, taking on UTSA on Thursday, Sep. 3, at 11 a.m. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.

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.