BEAUMONT, Texas – Murielle Hlavac registered a double-double for Lamar University, but it wasn't enough for the Cardinals as visiting McNeese posted a 3-1 win in Southland Conference women's volleyball action at McDonald Gym on Saturday.
 
Hlavac finished with 14 kills and 10 digs, compiling a team-high 15 points, but the Cardinals came up short against their archrivals. McNeese (15-11 overall, 6-5 Southland) won the first set 25-22, before the Cardinals (3-17, 1-9) responded with a 25-23 win in the second set to even the match at one set apiece as the teams headed to the locker rooms.
 
The Cardinals had leads deep into the next two sets, but the visiting Cowgirls found a way to win those sets, claiming 25-18 and 25-19 victories.
 
Inspired by a raucous crowd and the presence of the 2007 Southland Conference champion LU volleyball team that was honored, the Cardinals never gave in to the Cowgirls.
 
LU and McNeese were tied at 17 in the third set before McNeese put the set away with an 8-1 run. The Cowgirls were aided by four straight LU attack errors during the run.
 
The fourth set saw LU take a 16-14 lead on a kill by Amy Hollowell, before the Cowgirls ran off five straight points to build a 19-16 advantage. McNeese never trailed after that.
 
Iyaria Walker finished with 11 kills for the Cardinals. Zahria Scott had a team-high 21 digs for LU, while Haley Morton had 39 assists and nine digs. Tomar Thomas finished with nine kills and three service aces.
 
Keegan Nelms had a double-double for McNeese, ending the day with 14 kills and 16 digs to go along with four aces. Angela McGownd had a match-high 22 digs for McNeese, while Caitlin Sharrock was credited with 24 assists.
 
LU had a .169 hitting percentage for the day, with 50 kills and 25 errors on 148 attempts. McNeese hit .228, with 52 kills and 18 errors in 149 attempts.
 
The Cardinals look to snap their five-match skid when they travel to Hammond, Louisiana, to take on Southeastern Louisiana at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Cardinals were 3-1 winners over the Lady Lions earlier this season at McDonald Gym.
 
LU ends the season with five of its six remaining matches on the road. The final home match of the season is set for 7 p.m. Oct. 31, when Incarnate Word comes to McDonald Gym for Senior Night.
 
For tickets, call 409-880-1715, or CLICK HERE. Tickets are available at the Montagne Center ticket office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Tickets will be available at McDonald Gym one hour prior to first serve. LU students receive free admission with their Cardinal One card, while Junior Cardinal Club members receive free admission with their membership badge.