University of the Incarnate Word Athletics

2012 (Junior):  Cardenas earned a trio of academic awards including Lone Star Conference All-Academic Team, LSC Commissioner's Honor Roll and D2ADA Academic Achievement Award. For the majority of the season, she was one of the team's two setters reaching double figures in assists in 23 matches and finished the year averaging 4.14 assists per set for the year.  She had five double-doubles on the season and unfortunately  the team was 0-5 in those matches.  She had a season high 27 assists and 11 digs in a five-set loss at Tarleton State.  She registered 20 assists in four-set wins over Midwestern State and Tarleton State at home.

2011 (Sophomore):  Cardenas saw action in all but one match serving as the team’s defensive specialist and back-up setter.  She earned All-LSC Academic Team honors.  She finished third on the team with 112 assists and was second with 2.64 digs per set.  She posted her only double-double of the year in a five set loss to Nova Southeastern when she had 25 assists and 15 digs.  She had at least 10 assists in three matches and at least 10 digs in nine matches.  She registered a season high 23 digs against New Mexico Highlands and at Texas A&M-Commerce.  In the service game she had 13 aces against only six errors for the year.  She was named to the LSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll after posting a 4.00 GPA in 2011-12.

2010 (Freshman):  Cardenas played as one of the team’s two setters in their 6-2 offensive scheme.  She played in 23 of 24 matches and finished second on the team with 4.35 assists per set.  She contributed 2.31 digs per set and had a spectacular 11-to-3 service ace-to-error ratio.  She had double digit assist totals in each of the last 19 matches of the year and reached 20 assists in five matches.  Her best performance of the season came in a five set win over East Central when she had 20 assists, 17 digs and three kills.  She posted a total of eight double-doubles on the season including an 18-assist, 11-dig performance in a 3-0 sweep at Texas A&M-Commerce.

High School:  Cardenas was a highly touted setter out of O’Conner High School.  She was a three-time Express News Super Team selection and two-time All-Texas team selection.  She earned All-State honors as a senior.  She also played basketball and softball.

Personal:  Cardenas is the daughter of Javier and Denise Cardenas and is studying communications.  She has a brother, Xavier, and she was born on January 23, 1992.  Her father played football at East Texas State now Texas A&M-Commerce.  She is involved in the UIW SAAC and UIW Math club.