BEAUMONT, Texas - Double digit kills from four players and a double-double by Abigale Nash weren't quite enough for Lamar University (8-13, 3-8 SLC) Thursday night in a battle of the Redbirds. The Cards fell to the University of the Incarnate Word (6-19, 2-9 SLC) in four sets on Halloween.

Nash paved the way offensively with 16 kills and 10 digs, her 12th double-double of the year. Malaysia Murdock (13) and Bre'Ala Box (10) reached double digit kills with attack percentages in the .500s, and Dannisha House was right behind with another 11 kills. Kayla Neumann reached eight kills, two aces, and six digs in just two sets played, and Erin Pequeno paced the Cards defensively with 21 digs. Annika Slovak turned in her own double double with 49 assists and 11 digs.

The four-set decision is deceptive of an extremely close game that featured 27 ties and 27 lead changes all told. LU led in each of the four frames, and was competitive throughout the match. In the opening set LU and UIW traded the lead 10 times and tied the game another 10 times, including as late as 21-21 when a Nash kill knotted the set up. An UIW attack error in the next point gave LU its final lead, 22-21, before the "other" Cardinals took the final four points and the set 25-22.

The second set was almost a mirror of the first with 10 ties and 10 lead changes, though most of the lead changes came earlier in the game. Lamar's final lead was at 14-13, and though the Cards tied up the set two more times at 17-17 and 18-18, UIW had just enough to close out the set. Incarnate Word took five of the final seven points to win the game 25-20.

A change in the lineup gave LU new life in the third set. Neumann came in and energized Big Red early, helping keep Lamar within striking distance of the Cards across the court. UIW took its final lead of the set at 15-14 on an LU error, then Neumann almost single-handedly scored four of the next five points to put LU out front 19-15. The good guys held UIW at arms-length to win the set 25-20.

The final set was another close one between the two Cardinal teams with a tie as late as 18-18, but the "other" Cards again had just enough to win the set, taking the fourth game 25-20 and the match in four sets.