Sept. 6, 2011

Box Score

LAFAYETTE, La. - Lamar University looked as though it would force a fifth set Tuesday night at Earl K. Long Gym, but long-time rival Louisiana-Lafayette was able to stem the tide and pull out a 3-1 volleyball victory over the Lady Cardinals.

Lamar has now lost five straight matches, standing at 1-6 going into Thursday's 7 p.m. home match with Northern Illinois. The Lady Cardinals will then host Baylor, Mississippi State and UTEP this weekend in the MCM Elegante' Invitational at McDonald Gym.

After dropping the first two sets 25-22 and 25-19, the Lady Cardinals pulled out a 25-22 victory in the third set. Needing to win the fourth set to continue the match, the Lady Cardinals took a 22-21 lead in the fourth set on an attack error by the Ragin' Cajuns' Andrea Hole.

Following a La.-Lafayette timeout, the Cajuns (5-2) scored the next two points to take a 23-22 lead. Lamar pulled even at 23 on another La.-Lafayette attack error before Kerrilyn Lazare and Mandi Gavin posted back-to-back kills to close the match with a 25-23 score.

Sophomore outside hitter Megan McStravick led Lamar with 12 kills, her most since opening the season with 16 against North Texas. Fellow sophomore Sierra Whittaker added 10 kills as the duo combined for over half of the Lady Cardinals' 41 team kills.

The Ragin' Cajuns finished the match with 52 kills, despite hitting just .155 as a team. La.-Lafayette took advantage of 13 LU service errors and also picked up seven more digs than Lamar (57-50).

Junior middle blocker Christina Hobbs had eight kills and four total blocks, as well as leading Lamar with a .316 attack percentage.

Blair Claypoole led three Ragin' Cajuns with at least 10 kills as she finished with 14. Gavin led all players with 17 kills, while also dishing out 41 assists.

LAMAR