When the night began, there was ample evidence suggesting the University of Incarnate Word volleyball team would find a remedy for its recent heartbreak.

The Cardinals last week suffered consecutive five-set losses on the road in Southland Conference competition, including one in which they failed to convert on four match points in the final stanza. They faced an opponent on Thursday that hadn’t won in more than a month.

It appeared to be a perfect scenario for the Cardinals to “redeem” themselves. They nearly found out the hard way that it wasn’t.

Incarnate Word dug itself out of a gigantic hole and outlasted Nicholls State 19-25, 14-25, 25-23, 25-17, 15-7 at the McDermott Center.

It might end up being a crucial outcome in the Cardinals’ bid to make the SLC tournament for the fourth straight season.

“I think we kind of walked in not expecting them to fight as hard,” said Incarnate Word senior outside hitter Allison Palmi, who had 15 kills and 17 digs, both team highs. “We know they’re a very respectable team, and they want to win. It took a little bit to find our rhythm, but once we kind of clicked and started executing that game plan, we were able to put it in effect.”

The Cardinals (10-10 overall, 2-6 in SLC), after rallying to win the third and fourth sets to even the match at 2-2, used a quick surge to grab command in the decisive fifth frame. They built an 8-0 advantage, led by junior setter Natalie Kimmel’s two aces and sophomore middle blocker Kade Thomas’ 1 1/2 blocks.

Nicholls State (2-16, 0-8) pulled within 9-6 but wouldn’t get any closer as Incarnate Word used a 6-1 flurry to close out the match, highlighted by senior outside hitter Risa Sena’s three kills, an ace from junior setter Anuhea Faitau and a match-clinching kill from freshman outside hitter Sofia Grimm, whose role and playing time have increased with sophomore outside hitter and New Braunfels Canyon graduate Kyla Malone sidelined with an injury.

“I just wanted to finish it off for us, because we worked so hard as a team,” said Grimm, who celebrated her birthday Thursday with 11 kills and 2 1/2 blocks, both career highs. “It was really exciting because I didn’t think I would play as a freshman. It’s a huge opportunity to show off who I am.”

Incarnate Word started its remarkable comeback when all appeared lost. After winning the first two sets, Nicholls State grabbed a 13-4 advantage in the third set and appeared poised to snap a 10-match losing streak and record its first conference victory. Gracie Campbell led Nicholls State with 17 kills and two aces. Autumn Perry contributed 10 kills and 2 1/2 blocks.

The Cardinals, though, rode four kills apiece from Grimm, Sena and Palmi and three assisted blocks from Annamarie Alvarez and Grimm to put together a 21-10 run to extend the contest. Incarnate Word was two points away from defeat at 23-21 in the third frame before reeling off the final four points.

Sena had 12 kills and two aces. Faitau had 21 assists and three aces, Kimmel had 19 assists and three aces, including two during the pivotal charge in the fifth set, and Thomas and Alvarez had four blocks apiece.

When the teams met on Sept. 30 in Thibodaux, Louisiana, the Cardinals coasted to a 25-15, 25-15, 25-19 win as Risa racked up 16 kills and paced an attack that produced a season-best .411 hitting percentage.

Incarnate Word didn’t find the same success this time around as Nicholls State used tough defense (60 digs and 11 blocks) to stymie the Cardinals in the early stages. Incarnate Word ended up with a .200 hitting percentage, buoyed by its play during the final three sets.

“Nobody’s going to be easy, so we just have to make sure we come in ready to work every day,” Palmi said.

terrence@terrencesports.com
Twitter: @sa_terrence1