Box Score HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Facing an undefeated team away from the friendly confines of McDonald Gym, Lamar University put up a fight in their match at Sam Houston State. The Cardinals (6-10, 1-5 SLC) stayed within striking distance of the Bearkats (9-8, 5-0 SLC) in each set but ultimately fell just short, losing a three-set decision.
Dannisha House led with 12 kills and was followed by
Malaysia Murdock and
Kaitlyn Gil with five apiece. Gil hit .420 in the match with no errors on 12 attempts.
Erin Pequeno had an impressive 22 digs and was joined in double digit digs by
Abigale Nash (16 digs) and
Alyssa Legette (13 digs). Legette was the primary setter on Saturday and had 33 assists in that role.
As a team LU was neck and neck with the Bearkats, keeping within one kill (40 to 39) and outpacing them in attack attempts (127 to 113). The Cardinals also had more assists - 38 to 35 - and just one fewer serving ace. Sam Houston State was able to narrowly win each set with a slightly better attack percentage, three more digs, four more total blocks, and a 61.5 percent sideout percentage.
The first set featured five ties and three lead changes with Lamar taking the game early but SHSU swinging momentum its way late. The Cards cut the lead down to just a point at 11-10 and again at 12-11, but a 7-1 run by Sam gave the Bearkats just enough room to win the game. Lamar closed the gap to just two points, 21-19, and then survived three consecutive set points before Sam eventually claimed the set 25-21.
As razor thin as the winning margin was for Sam Houston State in the first set, Lamar somehow made it even closer in the second. The game featured 12 ties and four lead changes, including on a Cardinal set point. The Bearkats opened the game with a 3-0 run but quickly had control wrenched away by the Cardinals who took their first lead at 5-4. SHSU would force several ties, but each time Lamar would answer right back. Lamar held its lead all the way until Sam capitalized on a ball handling error and an attack error to jump ahead 20-19, but a Sam service error and a kill by Gil put LU ahead again 21-20. The Cards and Bearkats would tie the game three more times before Sam survived an LU set point, 24-23, with a Bearkat kill. That swing in momentum allowed SHSU to escape with a 26-24 win.
Lamar struggled a bit to open the final set but showed grit and determination with a late rebound. The Bearkats opened the set with a 7-2 run before Lamar clawed back in it, tying the game at 8-8. Another big Bearkat run put the game at 22-12 SHSU, but again Lamar held tough, winning six of the next seven points to halve the advantage at 23-18. LU survived one match point before ulitmately losing the set 25-19.
The Cardinals return home next week to host Central Arkansas (8-10, 2-3 SLC) on Oct. 17 and Nicholls (10-7, 4-2 SLC) on Oct. 19. The second half of the conference slate will begin Oct. 22 at McNeese (8-9, 1-4 SLC), and another road match at Houston Baptist (10-10, 2-3 SLC) will precede a four-game home stand for Lamar against UIW (4-16, 0-6 SLC), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (10-9, 3-3 SLC), New Orleans (9-10, 2-3 SLC), and Southeastern Louisiana (8-11, 3-3 SLC).
