SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word's volleyball team returns to action this week, traveling to face cross-town foe UTSA before returning home to host Tarleton State in its first home match of the season. The Cardinals look to bounce back after a tough stretch in Baton Rouge, dropping both games against Houston and LSU, despite battling through competitive sets against both.

Calissa Allison led the Cardinals this past weekend, continuing to fill the stat sheet with 19 kills, 30 assists, eight digs, and four blocks. She averaged 2.71 kills per set and recorded her first double-double of the season against LSU, finishing with 10 kills and 19 assists while adding six digs and a team-leading two blocks. 

Victoria Hall had a career weekend, recording a new career high of 20 assists against LSU and totaling 34 assists across the two matches. In just her second collegiate match, Teddy Rae Ewers reached double figures in digs with 12 against LSU, while adding five kills. 

With the opening weekend under their belt, here's a look at who the Cardinals will face this week. 
 

UTSA (1-2)

WHEN AND WHERE: Thursday, Sep. 3 at 11 a.m., Convocation Center (San Antonio, TX)

ABOUT THE ROADRUNNERS: UTSA went 13-15 last season, with a 6-10 conference record. The Roadrunners return 10 players this season, including American Conference All-Freshman Team selection Giada Obregon. Obregon led the team with 3.36 digs per set last season while adding 92 assists and 28 aces. The junior trio of Ally Tribe and Megan Hawkins return as the Roadrunners' leaders in kills and assists, respectively. UTSA opened the season at the Razorback Invitational in Arkansas, falling to UT Arlington, 3-1, in its opener. They bounced back for a five-set win over SIU Edwardsville before dropping a four-set decision to Arkansas. 

MATCHUP HISTORY: The cross-town foes have met seven times before, with UTSA holding a 6-1 advantage in the all-time series. The Cardinals stole the win in the most recent meeting, defeating the Roadrunners in five sets in 2024. 
 

TARLETON ST. (1-2)

WHEN AND WHERE: Saturday, Sep. 5 at 1 p.m., McDermott Center (San Antonio, TX)

ABOUT THE TEXANS: The Texans are coming off a 16-10 season, including a 9-3 mark in conference play, after a strong turnaround in 2025. Following a seven-win season in 2024, Tarleton finished top three in the WAC standings last season and earned its first-ever Division I postseason tournament win at the WAC Tournament, advancing to the semifinals. Tarleton returns nine players from last season, including WAC Freshman of the Year Alyssa Dinh. Dinh was also named Preseason All-UAC after recording 86 kills in 2025, averaging 1.51 kills per set with a .286 attack percentage. The middle blocker also made an impact defensively, totaling 62 blocks, including 14 solo, averaging 1.09 blocks per set. Outside hitter Madison Frank also returns for her senior season after leading the Texans with 244 kills last year. The Texans opened up the season at the Wildcat Classic, falling to UC Santa Barbara in five sets in its season opener. Tarleton then dropped a three-set match to Arizona before closing out the tournament with a win over Prairie View A&M.

MATCHUP HISTORY: UIW is 3-7 all-time against Tarleton State, with the Cardinals' wins coming in 2009 (3-0), 2012 (3-1), and 2023 (3-2). The teams last met in 2023, when the Cardinals battled through a five-set affair, securing the victory with an extra-points win in the decisive fifth set.