CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Down by two sets and against the ropes at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, the volleyball team of Lamar University once again demonstrated grit and determination Thursday in a herculean comeback effort. The Cards demolished the Islanders in the third set and captured the fourth set to force extras before ultimately falling in the fifth.
 
Tomar Thomas had 13 kills, nine digs, and an ace, pacing Lamar's offensive effort, and Ivette Dim also recorded 11 kills and two blocks. Kyla Rogers collected 31 assists, a new career best, and Abigale Nash (13 digs) and Kinsy Haschke (10 digs) each had double-digit digs.
 
Lamar had tied the first set 7-7, but five straight points went in favor of A&M-Corpus Christi. The Cards took just two of the next seven points as well, and the Islanders led by as much as nine, 18-9. Lamar made a run of it late but couldn't hold off A&M-Corpus Christi. The Islanders won 25-17.
 
The Islanders opened the set with a 9-4 run, then strung together several more runs to put the set out of reach. Leading 18-13, A&M-Corpus Christi captured the final seven points to win the set 25-13.
 
Coming out of the break the Cardinals responded with voracity, opening the third set with a 12-3 run. The Islanders and Cards traded runs the rest of the set, but Big Red kept A&M-Corpus Christi at arms' length the majority of the game, winning 25-14.
 
A 9-2 LU run started the fourth set, giving the Redbirds room enough to coast through the rest of the set. Thomas, Nash, Dim, and Nina Pevic all recorded kills, and Bre'Ala Box had impressive, back-to-back kills that put Lamar out front 21-12. Though the Islanders captured five of the final seven points, Lamar won the game 25-19 and forced a fifth set.
 
Lamar tied the set three times early on, but 10 of the final 12 points went in favor of A&M-Corpus Christi, and the match went to the Islanders in five sets.
 
The Cards return to action at Houston Baptist on Saturday, concluding their four-game Southland Conference road trip, and then will return home to host the University of Central Arkansas next Thursday and Stephen F. Austin next Saturday.