LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Opening the NM State SpringHill Suites Invitational with a strong offensive performance, Lamar University (5-3) took down Grambling State University (1-6) in straight sets at the volleyball tournament Friday afternoon.

The Cardinals were paced on offense by double-double performances from Abigale Nash (13 kills, 11 digs) and Kaitlyn Gil (11 kills, 11 digs). Nash earned her seventh double-double in eight matches played this year, and the freshman from Port Neches, Texas, earned her first career Cardinal double-double. Dannisha House (nine kills, three blocks) and Malaysia Murdock (seven kills, two blocks) continue to be a force to be reckoned with, hitting at over .350 and combining for five blocks, and Annika Slovak had 39 assists for Big Red, a personal-best. LU hit .320 for the match with 46 kills as a team, and held possession 56.8 percent of the match with a 68.8 sideout percentage.

"I thought we did a good job of controlling our side of the floor and playing our game, said head coach Michelle Kuester. "It took us a little while to adjust to the arena and altitude but we worked through it and kept learning as we went through the match. We did well at managing errors while staying aggressive."

Though Grambling took an early lead, Lamar bounced back quickly with the first of several big runs, stringing together four straight points to take a 6-4 lead. The Lady Tigers and Cards traded points for the next few possessions before a 5-2 run put LU ahead 15-10. GSU would try to climb back into the set but Murdock's four kills in the game kept them at arms' reach, and Lamar closed the set 10-8 to win the set 25-18.

GSU struck quickly to open the second set, leading 5-2, but again Lamar's young squad showed grit and determination in the face of adversity. Six Nash kills in the second set led the Cards to a big comeback, and LU won 23 of the final 36 points of the game to win the second set 25-18 and take a 2-0 lead into the halftime break.

After a few quick lead changes in the first eight points of the final set, Lamar took a 5-4 lead on a service ace by Erin Pequeno. LU would not surrender the lead for the rest of the match, and outscored Grambling 20-7 to wrap up its fifth win of the year. The Cardinals hit .375 in the set and held the Lady Tigers to a negative hitting percentage in the set as they won the game 25-11 and the match in three sets.

Lamar returns to action on Saturday with the final two matches of the NMSU SpringHill Suites Invitational, playing the University of Portland (5-2) at 2 p.m. Central and the tourney hosts, New Mexico State (6-0) at 7 p.m. Central.