BEAUMONT, Texas – Tomar Thomas had a career-high 21 kills, but the Lamar University Cardinals dropped a five-set heartbreaker to visiting New Orleans in a Southland Conference women's volleyball match at McDonald Gym on Tuesday.
 
The Privateers came out on top in the back-and-forth affair that lasted two hours and 26 minutes by scores of 23-25, 26-24, 28-30, 25-19 and 15-11.
 
Thomas was one of three players to register double figures in kills for the Cardinals (3-15 overall, 1-7 Southland). Ivette Dim had 18 kills, while Murielle Hlavac posted a double-double with 13 kills and 17 digs.
 
After holding off New Orleans in the first set, the Cardinals had a 23-22 lead in the second set, but the Privateers (9-11, 3-5) found a way to win the second set.
 
Both teams had their chances to win the third set before Thomas finally won it for LU with a thunderous kill on a set from Haley Morton.
 
The Privateers went on a 9-3 run in the fourth set to take control at 20-11 before finally winning it by six points. That set up the decisive fifth set that was close for most of the way. Thomas' 21^st kill tied it at 10 before UNO closed it out on a 5-1 run, ending the match on Brianna Vega's 18^th kill of the evening.
 
Vega's 18 kills led New Orleans. Blessing Dun had 16 kills, while Kaitlyn Grice and Lane Hindenburg finished with 11 kills apiece for UNO.
 
Morton finished with 55 assists and 13 digs for the Cardinals. Kaitlyn Nutt also had 13 digs for LU, 2hile Zahria Scott was credited with 12 digs.
 
With the loss, the Cardinals dropped two games behind New Orleans for the eighth, and final, berth in next month's Southland Conference Tournament with eight matches remaining. LU is in 11^th place, a half-game ahead of Nicholls, which visits McDonald Gym at 7 p.m. Thursday.
 
The Cardinals have two matches remaining on their homestand. In addition to Thursday's match against Nicholls, archrival McNeese visits LU at 1 p.m. Saturday.
 
Thursday's match is Dig Pink Night, as members of Zeta Tau Alpha will be selling pink baked goods and ribbons, with proceeds benefitting breast-cancer research and awareness. Saturday's contest against McNeese will feature a reunion of the 2007 Southland Conference champion LU volleyball team. In addition, it's Camper Reunion Day, with all of those who attended this past summer's camp receiving free admission when they wear their camp T-shirt. There will also be a postmatch autograph session.
 
For tickets to all LU home matches, call 409-880-1715, or CLICK HERE. LU students are admitted for free with their Cardinal One Card. Junior Cardinal Club members receive free admission with their membership badge.