BEAUMONT, Texas - After having to cut short its 2019 pre-season due to Tropical Storm Imelda, Lamar University's volleyball team took a non-traditional approach to preparing for its next match.
The Cardinals (5-5) were forced to remain in the Golden Triangle this weekend by the storm and flooding, canceling their trip to the UND Classic. With a suddenly free weekend and plenty of reason to stay safe and dry, head coach
Michelle Kuester and the team instead decided to spend Friday and Saturday helping the recovery effort in Southeast Texas.
"I think it's important that we outreach to the people that are affected, especially if we're here and able to do it," said Kuester to 12 News' Ashly Elam. "I think it's important to give back and have my kids see the kind of devastation that people here are experiencing and realize that they're very privileged in the opportunities that they have."
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Big Red worked at Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School and assisted in the recovery efforts at several houses in the local area.
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Lamar at New Orleans - Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m. - Human Performance Center
Lamar opens its 2019 Southland Conference schedule Tuesday against the University of New Orleans (7-7, 0-0 SLC). The Privateers are 4-3 at home, 3-0 on the road, and 0-4 in neutral site matches this year, and are 61-107 in the sixth year under
Millicent Van Norden, including a 12-19 overall finish and a 10th place, 6-10 mark in SLC play.
The Cards are 23-15 all-time against UNO, but the Privateers hold the advantage away from McDonald Gym with an 11-5 mark against LU in road games or neutral site competition. Recent history hasn't favored either team with the series split 5-5 since 2006, and 2018's lone entry into the series was a five-set match that narrowly went Lamar's way.
Brianna Vega is one of the most dangerous outside hitters in the Southland this season with 190 kills on the year, averaging 3.65 a set. That ranks third in the SLC behind Northwestern State's
Hannah Brister (4.83 kills/set) and Lamar's
Abigale Nash (3.79 kills/set).
Lucie Pokorna is hitting at a .295 clip, and she also leads the Southland in assists a set with an average of 9.92 - totaling 516 on the year.
Annika Slovak has 310 assists this year, averaging 8.61 assists a set (third in the SLC).
Sh'Diamond Holly is seventh in the conference in blocks per set, averaging 0.95.
As a team New Orleans ranks near the top of the conference in several categories. The Privateers are third in hitting percentage (.216) and assists per set (12.06), but they rank middle of the pack in opponent hitting percentage (.198, seventh). Their 13.31 kills per set are the best in the Southland, and their 1.96 blocks a set are fifth-best among SLC teams. Digs are perhaps the weakest portion of the game for UNO with just 14.58 digs a set, the ninth-best mark in the SLC.
Up Next - At Southeastern Louisiana - Sept. 28 at 1 p.m. - Hammond, La. (University Center)
The Cardinals will complete their Pelican State road trip with a Saturday afternoon match at Southeastern Louisiana (5-9, 0-1) before returning home on Oct. 3 to host Stephen F. Austin (12-1, 0-0 SLC).
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