SAN ANTONIO -- After opening conference play undefeated, the University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team hits the road to face two of the four teams to start league play unbeaten. The Cardinals will face UTRGV on Thursday before traveling to Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Saturday.

UIW opened conference play with a two-match homestand against East Texas A&M and Northwestern State, defeating both opponents in four sets. The Cardinals held the Lions to a .094 hitting percentage, the lowest mark by a UIW opponent this season, while posting a season-high 12 blocks as a team. They held Northwestern State to a .155 hitting percentage while hitting .253 as a team behind a season-high 18 kills from Kitana Tu'ufuli. 

Rogers was named the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week following the Cardinals' opening week of conference play, recording 42 digs across the two games, averaging 5.25 digs per set, while adding a season-high two aces against Northwestern State. Rogers leads the Cardinals this season with 4.63 digs per set, which ranks third in the conference and 27th nationally among NCAA Division I players. She is the Cardinals' first Defensive Player of the Week selection since Audrey Patton on Nov. 11, 2024. 

The Cardinals will look to carry that momentum into a pair of road matches against two undefeated conference opponents.

UTRGV (6-7, 2-0 Southland)

WHEN AND WHERE: Thursday, Oct. 1 at 12 p.m., UTRGV Fieldhouse (Edinburg, Texas)

ABOUT THE VAQUEROS: UTRGV enters the match after earning its second consecutive sweep, defeating Nicholls and McNeese. The two wins garnered Lana Rnjak Southland Setter of the Week honors after she posted a double-double with 27 assists and 12 digs against the Colonels. Rnjak recorded 58 assists over the two matches and currently ranks third in the conference at 8.70 assists per set. Ema Petkovic and Martina Franco led the Vaqueros offensively with 21 kills apiece over the week.

MATCHUP HISTORY: UTRGV leads the all-time series 19-8 against UIW. The Vaqueros have won the last two matchups, taking both games 3-0 and 3-1 in 2025. 

TEXAS A&M CORPUS CHRISTI (4-9, 2-0 Southland)

WHEN AND WHERE: Saturday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m., Dugan Wellness Center (Corpus Christi, Texas)

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS: The Islanders will face Houston Christian before welcoming the Cardinals on Saturday. Texas A&M Corpus Christi opened conference play undefeated with wins over Nicholls and McNeese. Kenna Buchanan led the way in both matches with a team-high 15 kills against the Colonels and a career-high 19 kills over the Cowgirls. Brooklyn Jaeger led the Islanders defensively, with a team-leading 31 kills over the two matches. 

MATCHUP HISTORY: Texas A&M Corpus Christi leads the all-time series 21-4 over the Cardinals. The Cardinals have won three of the last four matchups, with both 2025 games going to five sets. Before UIW's 3-2 win in 2024, the Islanders had won 19 straight against the Cardinals dating back to 2000. 

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.