BEAUMONT, Texas – Tomar Thomas had 16 kills, while Bre'Ala Box matched her career high with 12 kills, but the Lamar University Cardinals came up short in their upset bid against Stephen F. Austin in a Southland Conference volleyball match on Saturday.
 
The Cardinals (2-12 overall, 0-4 Southland) hung tough with the Ladyjacks (16-5, 4-1) before succumbing in four sets as SFA claimed a 25-19, 25-22, 23-25, 25-15 win.
 
"I saw a lot of positives today," LU coach Alan Edwards said. "The second set could have gone either way and we looked good in the third set. We took our foot off the pedal in the fourth set, and we couldn't recover."
 
The Cardinals held a 22-21 lead in the second set before the Ladyjacks closed out the set with four straight points that started with an LU service error.
 
"We were being aggressive on the serve, and it didn't work out that time," Edwards said. "That is going to happen at times."
 
The Cardinals came out strong in the third set. LU led for most of the third set before SFA rallied to take a 22-20 lead. The Cardinals wrapped up the set on a 5-1 run, closing it out on a kill by Thomas.
 
"That's the first time since I've been here that we've won a set from SFA," Edwards said. "They're one of the favorites to win the conference, and we showed that we can stay with them."
 
LU led 3-2 early in the fourth set before SFA went on a 6-0 run to take the lead for good.  The Cardinals were never able to get closer than three points the rest of the way.
 
"We are so close," Edwards said. "There are some things we still have to work on, but we're getting better."
 
Haley Coleman, Anyia Williams and Corin Evans had 14 kills apiece for SFA. Lexus Cain had a match-high 25 digs for the Ladyjacks.
 
Ivette Dim had 10 kills for LU. Murielle Hlavac had 15 digs, Monica Strohschein had 14 digs, while Haley Morton had 11 digs and 49 assists.
 
"I thought Tomar Thomas, Bre'Ala Box and Ivette Dim were all outstanding today," Edwards said. "They keep working hard and getting better."
 
The Cardinals return to action when they host Southeastern Louisiana at 7 p.m. Tuesday at McDonald Gym. The Lady Lions (2-17, 0-5) have lost seven straight matches heading into Tuesday's encounter with the Cardinals.
 
"We've played a top-heavy schedule so far," Edwards said. "Now we're entering a stretch where we have to win six or seven of our next eight matches to get back in the hunt for a tournament berth. If we play like we did today, we'll be OK."
 
For tickets to Tuesday's match, please 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 are 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 when they present their membership badge.
 
Fans attending Tuesday's match will receive a free LU Athletics Patagonia water bottle while supplies last.