HAMMOND, LOUISIANA – The University of the Incarnate Word volleyball team fell to Southland Conference foe Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday night on the road in four sets.  The Cardinals won the first set 25-21, but then lost the next three 26-24, 25-15, 25-23.

A few points here and there proved to be the difference between a Cardinals (6-17, 2-8) win and loss.  The Cardinals took the first set behind a strong performance by freshman middle blocker Bryaunea Hall (Copperas Cove/Copperas Cove HS).  She had six kills in the set, including the set winner.

In the second set, the Cardinals and Lions (8-13, 5-4) had 11 ties and five lead changes.  UIW led 19-18 when the Lions responded with four consecutive points.  SLU took a 24-21 on a lead by Tiffany Thomas.  The Cardinals came back to tie the score at 24-24 before a service error and a kill by Parrie Hartley ended the set.

The third set went completely to the Lions.  They scored the first nine points thanks to five attack errors by the Cardinals.  Overall, SLU posted a .591 attack percentage for the set.

The fourth set was another close one with the Cardinals taking the early lead.  They went up 12-7 on an attack error by the Lions and still maintained a 13-9 lead after a kill by Shaina Garza (San Antonio/Warren HS).  The Lions came back with six of the next seven points and took the lead on a Hartley service aces at 15-14.  Southeastern earned their first match point after a kill by Thomas made it 24-22.  Angelique Vidaurri (San Antonio/Southwest HS) kept the Cardinals alive with a kill, but then Veronica Turk finished the match for SLU with a kill.

The Cardinals finished with 46 kills, 61 digs and 7.0 blocks while posting a .114 attack.  Vidaurri led the team with 12 kills while Hall finished with 11.  Madison Williams (New Braunfels/Canyon HS) dished out a team high 19 assists while Jordan Reifsteck (Allen/Oswego East (IL) HS) led the defense with 15 digs.

The Lions had 53 kills, 57 digs and 12.0 blocks in the match and a .236 attack.  Sarah Friedman had 12 kills while Hartley and Thomas each had 10 kills.  Rachael Bunn added eight kills and 10 blocks while Morgan Todd had 16 digs.  Mikayla Shippy dished out 43 assists.

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday at 2 p.m. at New Orleans.
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