Box Score ABILENE, Texas – The Lamar University volleyball team closed out the 2019 season with a hard-fought away match to Abilene Christian but fell in five sets, 3-2 (17-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-10, 15-12).
 
The Cardinals (9-17, 4-12 Southland) entered the final Southland Conference regular season match equally poised with rivals Abilene Christian. The Cardinals built up a two sets advantage at the Moody Coliseum. The Cardinals started the match securing the first set 25-17. Big Red maintained their strong start in a hotly contested second set, winning the second set 25-23. The Cardinals success over the opening two sets was due in large part to their impressive kill percentages, recording 17 and 19 kills, respectively.
 
Though the Wildcats bounced back from a two-set deficit, in what proved to be a riveting third set which saw the Cardinals lead multiple times and come within two points of victory. However, the Wildcats, thanks to the attacking duo Marybeth Sandercox and Katelyn Mueller secured the third set 23-25. The duo tallied 15 kills apiece over the course of the entire match. The Cardinals fell 25-10 in a one sided fourth set and having rallied in the deciding set, the Cardinals ultimately fell just short, dropping the fifth set, 15-12.
 
Sophomore Abigail Nash lead the Cardinals in digs (18) and recorded 13 kills and two aces. Freshman Malaysia Murdock was clinical at the net, recording 16 kills and was the Cardinals highest individuals' points scorer, with 17 points. Freshman Annika Slovak displayed an impressive offensive performance, leading the two teams with 55 assists.