NEW ORLEANS – Tomar Thomas had a match-high 24 kills, but the Lamar University Cardinals saw their postseason hopes take a huge hit as they fell to the host New Orleans Privateers in a Southland Conference women's volleyball match Saturday.
 
Thomas, who had a career-high 25 kills in Thursday's thrilling five-set win at Southeastern Louisiana, had a .375 hitting percentage against UNO, with just six attack errors on 48 attempts. Dannisha House had 11 kills for LU (4-18 overall, 2-10 Southland), while Bre'Ala Box totaled nine kills with no errors on 16 attempts for a dazzling .563 hitting percentage.
 
Still, the efforts weren't enough for the Cardinals, who fell 3.5 games behind eighth-place Abilene Christian for the final berth in next month's tournament with four matches remaining.
 
New Orleans (10-14, 4-8) claimed a 25-23 win in an opening set that features 15 ties and five lead changes. LU stormed back for a 25-18 win in the second set as the teams went to their locker rooms tied at one set apiece.
 
The third set was tied at 10 before the Privateers took control with an 8-2 run. LU battled back to cut the deficit to 19-18 before the Privateers pulled away to win the set 25-22.
 
The Cardinals appeared poised to send the match to a fifth set after surging to a 14-6 lead in the fourth set, but four straight LU errors allowed UNO back into the match. The Cardinals led 18-17 before New Orleans put the match away with an 8-0 run, ending the contest on Kaitlyn Grice's team-leading 12^th kill of the day to end the set at 25-18.
 
Zahria Scott had 12 digs for the Cardinals, while Haley Morton had a match-high 57 assists.
 
The Cardinals close out the home portion of their schedule when they host Incarnate Word at 7 p.m. Tuesday on Senior Night at McDonald Gym.
 
For tickets, call 409-880-1715, or CLICK HERE. Tickets will be available at the Montagne Center ticket office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The McDonald Gym ticket office will open one hour prior to Tuesday's first serve. LU students receive free admission with their Cardinal One card, while Junior Cardinal Club members get in for free when they present their membership badge.