BEAUMONT, Texas – Tomar Thomas continued her hot hitting, pounding 15 kills, but the Lamar University Cardinals dropped a 3-1 decision to the visiting Nicholls Colonels in a Southland Conference women's volleyball match at McDonald Gym on Thursday night.
 
The Cardinals (3-16 overall, 1-8 Southland) came out strong, winning the first set 25-19, but couldn't maintain that momentum the rest of the evening. Thomas had five kills in the first set helping the Cardinals lead from the first serve on. Iyaria Walker had two kills and three block assists in the opening set for LU.
 
After that, the Colonels (4-19, 2-8) took over, winning the next three sets by scores of 25-19, 25-23 and 26-24. Imanie Williams led the Colonels with 15 kills, while Stephanie Tobison added 12 kills.
 
Both teams turned in solid defensive efforts. LU limited Nicholls to a .139 hitting percentage thanks in large part to 12 blocks, while the Colonels limited the Cardinals to a .107 attack percentage.
 
After Nicholls evened the match by winning the second set, the Cardinals seemed poised to take control of the match when a Dannisha House kill put the Cards up 19-15 in the third set. Nicholls fought back a bit, but a kill by Thomas made it 22-19 LU before the Colonels closed out the set on a 6-1 run, ending it with a Brieanna Hill service ace.
 
The fourth set saw eight lead changes. The Cardinals were one point away from sending the match to a fifth set after House's kill made it 24-23, but once again the Colonels found a way to rally, this time ending the set and the match on a service ace by Alexa Perry.
 
House finished with nine kills for the Cardinals. Haley Morton had a double-double with 28 digs and 11 kills. Zahria Scott had 19 digs for LU, while Murielle Hlavac also had 11 digs for the Cardinals.
 
Emily Venable had a match-high 22 digs for the Colonels. Jade Piper finished with a double-double of 42 assists and 19 digs.
 
The Cardinals return to action at 1 p.m. Saturday when they host archrival McNeese at 1 p.m. Saturday. Prior to Saturday's match, the 2007 LU volleyball team that won the Southland Conference regular-season title will be honored. In addition, Saturday is Camper Reunion Day, with all youngsters who attended this summer's LU volleyball camp receiving free admission when they wear their camp T-shirt to the match. After the match, members of this season's team will sign autographs.
 
For ticket information, call 409-880-1715, or CLICK HERE. Tickets are available at the Montagne Center ticket office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. Tickets will be available at McDonald Gym starting at noon Saturday.
 
Fans attending Saturday's match are reminded that Jimmy Simmons Boulevard will be closed from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday for the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Walk. The parking lot in front of McDonald Gym will be available sometime between 11:30 and noon on Saturday.