HOUSTON – After a very disappointing start on opening day and some bright spots on the second day against Power Five schools, the Lamar University volleyball team heads to its second non-conference tournament Friday to play some familiar foes in Texas Southern and Houston as well as an unfamiliar Idaho State program.
The Cardinals (0-3) will open the Houston Invitational, hosted at the Athletics/Alumni Center, against TSU (1-3) at 10 a.m. Friday. A few hours later, they will take on the Bengals (1-3) of ISU at 4 p.m. before turning their sights to the host-Cougars (2-1) at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
LU has seen great success against TSU and holds an 11-0 all-time record against it, including two wins from last season. The luck against Houston has not been the same, falling behind 16-8.
Senior Kali Fluke comes in leading the Tigers with 3.46 kills a set, a category she topped the team in last season, with a .481 attack percentage. The middle blocker also has a 0.54 block per set mark, which ranks second behind Ashlynn Caldwell's 0.62 average.
"We saw Texas Southern in the spring and we know what to expect from them," said head coach
Alan Edwards. "They are going to be big, physical and athletic. They won't be afraid to attack us."
The Tigers' top outside hitter is Audriana Carson, who takes the floor with a 1.77 kills per set average.
Last season, Lamar swept both matches.
Chelsea Grant was a standout performer with a 2.43 kills a set mark against them with a .382 attack percentage. As a team, LU hit .332 with 14.14 kills a game.
Houston returns 10 letterwinners from last season and four starters. The two programs haven't met since 2014 when the Cougs hosted a season-opening tournament. Head-to-head, UH holds a big advantage that includes 13 wins in the last 14 matches.
Outside hitter Brianna Lynch leads the team in kills a game at 3.27 and is third in digs at 1.91. Just behind her in kills is fellow outside Megan Duncan at 2.91.
"Houston is going to play a variety of defenses and mix things up on our pins, especially our left side," said Edwards. "They'll be fast and athletic in their offense. That is going to help us prepare for teams in our league.
"We're going to have to play lower error than we did last weekend," he said. "When we're in system, we're pretty good. We have to be in system to get our middles going, and when that happens I think we'll be okay."
The meeting with Idaho State will be the sixth, but only the third since 1982. The Bengals lead the way 4-1 all-time.
"They'll be big, strong and physical," said Edwards. "That is the way their coach recruited at his past schools and that is how they have to recruit to play out there."
ISU returns 10 letterwinners and four starters.
"We knew the first four weeks would be a learning experience," said Edwards. "We just need to learn a little faster."
Next up the Cardinal will head to compete in the Nike Invitational, hosted at Oklahoma. They'll face Ohio, former Southland member UTSA and OU.
