INCARNATE WORD d. ST. EDWARD’S
22-25, 25-23, 25-22, 22-25, 15-13
In a matchup of the top two teams in the Heartland Conference, Incarnate Word got big hitting from it’s front line as the Cardinals won a five-set match over league-leading St. Edward’s in Austin.
With one match remaining for both clubs in the regular season UIW pulled to within one in the standings as the league’s championship tournament and the automatic NCAA bid looms on the horizon. The Cardinals are now 10-3 (23-8 overall) in the Heartland while St. Edward’s is one up at 11-2 (20-10).
To end the season Incarnate Word will play at Texas A&M International on Saturday while St. Edward’s hosts St. Mary’s. Should the two end in a tie at the top the tournament would be played at St. Edward’s because the Hilltoppers defeated UIW earlier in four sets while Incarnate Word’s victory took five.
If form is held in this final weekend St. Edward’s will host on November 13 and 14 as the number one seed. The remainder of the four-team field is set. Again, if form is held, UIW will be number two and play number three seed Dallas Baptist while Texas / Permian Basin would be number four and play the Hilltoppers first. The tournament winner advances automatically to the South Central Regional Championships beginning November 19 at a site to be determined.
In this most recent Incarnate Word victory the Cardinals’ front line came up big in the hitting department as two players led everyone with 17 kills each. Sophomore right side Chelsea Grayson got her put-always by hitting at a .324 clip while senior middle Edie Weise was at .382 on her 17 kills. As a team, led by those two, the Cardinals were successful at .270.
The UIW defense again was strong with a total of 93 digs led by four players in double digits. The top producer was junior libero Spencer Ladd with her match-high 36. Senior outside Emily Kopecki dug 17 balls while sophomore defensive specialist Mary Beth Huber had 13 and freshman outside Nikki Morfin had 10.
The Cardinals, after splitting the first four sets, saved their best for last. In the fifth and deciding set UIW got 11 of its 15 points on the attack. Incarnate Word in that set had 20 attack chances and produced those 11 positive points for a percentage of .400.
UIW: Kills, Chelsea Grayson, Edie Weise 17; Assists, Sarah Nordman 58; Aces, Spencer Ladd 3; Digs, Ladd 36; Blocks, Anna Herr 2.
SEU: Kills, Ashley Vander Hey 14; Assists, Chelsea Barsamian 45; Aces, Barsamian, Laura Colley 3; Digs, Michelle Hundt 24; Blocks, 0.
RECORDS:
Incarnate Word 23-8 (10-3)
St. Edward’s 20-10 (11-2)