LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Battling through every point with two extremely talented opponents, Lamar University (5-5) came up just short in both of its matches Saturday in the NMSU SpringHill Suites Invitational, falling 3-1 to both the University of Portland (7-2) and New Mexico State University (8-1).
Lamar vs Portland - 11 AM - Portland wins 3-1
The winners of the tourney, Portland proved a difficult opponent for all participants in the SpringHill Suites Invite, losing only one set in the entire weekend - to Lamar. The Cardinals captured the first set, 25-23, on the strength of their defense, matching the Pilots in attack percentage and forcing seven attack errors from Portland.
Portland and Lamar traded points for most of the second set, but a string of five points by the Pilots midway through the set gave Portland the lead for good, 15-13. Lamar would cut the lead down to two points on three separate occasions, but each time the Pilots had a response, keeping LU at arms-length until the set ended 25-20 in favor of Portland.
In the third set Lamar kept it close early but couldn't keep pace with the Pilots midway through the set - after the Cards cut the lead to one, 6-5, the Pilots strung together a 5-0 run to jump ahead 11-5. Another 5-0 run put UP ahead 19-9 before a service error from the Pilots snapped the streak.
Mercedes Danrich got in two quick kills late to pull Lamar slightly closer, but Portland took the third set 25-14.
A 7-0 opening run in the fourth set by the Pilots proved too much for the Cards to overcome in the finale as Portland took the final set 25-11.
Lamar's kills leader was
Abigale Nash, who recorded nine kills, falling just one short of her eighth double-double on the year with 13 digs.
Dannisha House had six kills and three blocks, Danrich had another six kills and one block, and
Erin Pequeno had 17 digs.
Kaitlyn Gil poured in another 13 digs while totaling two blocks and an ace, and
Annika Slovak had 25 assists, three kills, and four digs. Service specialist McKenzie Bennet had two aces for the Cards.
Lamar vs New Mexico State - 11 AM - NMSU wins 3-1
Lamar again came out aggressively in the opening set, and it again paid off for the Cards as they took the first game 25-22. LU hit .205 in the first set with Nash recording five kills and five digs.
New Mexico State responded with a strong performance in the second set, hitting .565 against the Cards and limiting LU's offense to a .000 hitting percentage. The Aggies took the second set 25-18.
The match was defined by a terrific, winner-take-all third set. Lamar and NMSU either tied or exchanged control of the set 18 times, and neither team could maintain a lead for long. It appeared as if the Aggies would hold the set to a normal outcome with a 24-20 lead late, but Lamar strung together four straight points on an NMSU service error, two aces by
Annika Slovak, and a kill by Nash to force extra points. The Cards faced seven set points before ultimately falling on the eighth Aggie attempt, 28-26.
The Cards still battled valiantly in the final set, but NMSU had too much left in the tank in the fourth game. A kill by
Nina Pevic pulled LU within one point, 5-4, before the Aggies took an 11-2 run to keep LU out of reach at 16-6. An error by the Aggies snapped the streak, but NMSUÂ held too much of an advantage. Lamar trailed 22-11 before
Dannisha House earned a kill that briefly gave Lamar life.
McKenzie Bennett scored an ace and House and Nash slammed home one kill apiece, but NMSU had just too much of a lead. The Aggies won 25-17.
Nash led the way with her eighth double-double of the year, totaling 15 kills and 12 digs. House had an additional eight kills and two blocks, and Pequeno had another stellar defensive outing with 21 digs.
Malaysia Murdock had seven kills on the best LU hitting performance of the night, and Slovak had 40 assists and four aces.
Up Next - UND Classic - Grand Forks, N.D. - Sep. 20 & 21
Lamar returns to action next weekend with the UND Classic. They'll face hosts University of North Dakota, Eastern Washington, and Akron.
#WeAreLU
