HAMMOND, La. – Tomar Thomas had a career-high 25 kills as the Lamar University Cardinals rallied for a scintillating five-set win over host Southeastern Louisiana in Southland Conference women's volleyball action on Thursday.
 
Thomas had just five errors on 57 attempts for a .351 hitting percentage as the Cardinals (4-17 overall, 2-9 Southland) kept their hopes alive for a berth in next month's Southland Conference Tournament.
 
"We needed this win," LU coach Aslan Edwards said. "We needed it bad."
 
The Cardinals are 2.5 games behind Abilene Christian for the eighth, and final, berth in the tournament. LU has five matches remaining, while ACU has six. The Cardinals are at Abilene Christian on Nov. 4.
 
After winning the first game 25-16, the Cardinals dropped 29-27 and 25-15 decisions in the next two sets as the Lady Lions (2-23, 0-11) went up 2-1 in sets. Southeastern Louisiana was one point away from winning the match on two occasions in the fourth set, but after the Lady Lions went up 27-26, the Cardinals ran off three straight points, capped by a Thomas kill for a 29-27 win to force a fifth set.
 
The Cardinals wiggled out of trouble in the final set, finding a way to win after the Lady Lions went up 14-11 in the 15-point match. LU ended the match on a 6-1 run, sealing the victory on an assisted block by Thomas and Amy Hollowell.
 
"Tomar was pretty good today," Edwards said. "She made some mistakes in pressure situations, but she continues to learn and improve."
 
Thomas wasn't the only one with a monster hitting night for the Cardinals. Iyaria Walker had a .500 hitting percentage with 14 kills against only two errors in 24 attempts. Dannisha House and Murielle Hlavac added nine kills apiece in the win. Hlavac had a match-high 20 digs for LU, with Kaitlyn Nutt posting 17 digs and Zahria Scott contributing 15 digs.  Haley Morton had 62 assists for LU.
 
Savannah Alcazar had 21 kills for Southeastern Louisiana, while Elyssa Purcell finished with 19.
 
The Cardinals return to action at noon Saturday at New Orleans before returning home to host Incarnate Word on Senior Night at 7 p.m. Oct. 31 in McDonald Gym.
 
For tickets to the UIW match, 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 the McDonald Gym ticket window one hour prior to first serve. LU students receive free admission with their Cardinal One card, while Junior Cardinal Club members receive free admission when they present their membership badge.