SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team will wrap up its non-conference schedule this week at the Baylor Classic in Waco. The Cardinals will face No. 18 Baylor on Wednesday night before taking on UTEP on Thursday in their final match before conference play.

The Cardinals are coming off a third-place finish at the Hawkeye Invitational, where they swept Southern Illinois and fell to Iowa and Missouri State in four sets. Kitana Tu'ufuli was named to the All-Tournament team after combining for 32 kills across three matches, reaching double figures in each contest. She recorded a season-high .286 hitting percentage against Southern Illinois and added five total blocks and nine digs on the defensive end. Tu'ufuli leads the Cardinals with 75 kills this season, averaging 2.78 kills per set. 

Here's a look at the Cardinals' final two matches before they open conference play. 
 

No. 18 BAYLOR (6-2)

WHEN AND WHERE: Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m., Ferrell Center (Waco, TX)

ABOUT THE BEARS: The Bears are coming off a 2-1 weekend at the Ameritas Tournament in Lincoln, Nebraska. Baylor opened the weekend with a sweep of Georgia Tech before falling to the No. 1 team in the country, Nebraska, in three sets. The Bears closed out the tournament with a sweep over New Mexico. The Bears are currently ranked No. 18 in the AVCA poll and are led by All-Big 12 Preseason selection Ksenia Rakhmanchik. The sophomore outside hitter leads the team with 129 kills, averaging 4.78 per set. She recorded her first double-double of the season against New Mexico, finishing with 17 kills and 14 digs.

MATCHUP HISTORY: This will be the first matchup between the two teams in the Cardinal's Division I era.

UTEP (7-1)

WHEN AND WHERE: Thursday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m., Ferrell Center (Waco, TX)

ABOUT THE MINERS: The Miners swept the Borderland Invitational last weekend, dropping just one set across three matches with wins over New Mexico State, Pacific and UC San Diego. UTEP has lost just one match this season, falling to Tulsa, and has already defeated two Southland Conference opponents in Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and UTRGV. The Miners were picked to finish first in the Mountain West Conference, while graduate student Ema Uskokovic was selected to the 2026 MW Preseason Team. Uskokovic combined for 21 kills and nine total blocks over the weekend, recording a season-high .385 hitting percentage against UC San Diego. UTEP will play one more match against No. 13 TCU in Fort Worth before competing in the Baylor Classic.

MATCHUP HISTORY: UTEP leads the all-time series against UIW, 3-0. The teams last met twice in 2019, with the Cardinals falling in both matches, 2-3. The first meeting between the two teams came in 2018, when the Cardinals fell, 1-3.
 

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.