LONG BEACH, Calif. - Trailing by two sets, Lamar University's volleyball team again displayed its grit and determination Friday in the Mizuno Invitational. Long Beach State led LU by two points in the third set, but the Cards scrapped their way back into the match, forcing a fourth set. The slow start proved too much to overcome though, and Big Red fell in four sets.

The Beach jumped out to an early 11-4 lead over Lamar, and extended that lead to as much as 15, 23-8. LBSU took the first set 25-11.

Long Beach's aggressiveness again put LU in an early deficit in the second set, but the Cards used a few runs of their own to pull within reach in the set, including staving off set point three times. LBSU took the second game 25-19.

Coming out of the break, Big Red was able to avoid the slow start and keep pace with LBSU, forcing two ties, at 7-7 and 10-10. LU capitalized on a serving error by Long Beach to string together a small run and lead 14-10, forcing a Beach timeout, and Lamar staved off ties by LBSU at 14-14 and again at 20-20 before Long Beach retook the lead 23-22. Kills by Tomar Thomas and Abigale Nash helped Lamar take the final three points of the game to win the set 25-23 and force a fourth set.

Long Beach used several runs in the pivotal fourth set to keep LU at arms' reach, winning the set 25-9 and the match 3-1.

Lamar returns to action Saturday at 2 p.m. in its final preseason match, facing Loyola Marymount.