HAMMOND, La. - Fighting in every set, Lamar University (5-7, 0-2 SLC) again came up just short in volleyball, losing in four sets at Southeastern Louisiana (6-9, 1-1 SLC). The Cardinals stayed within a couple of points in each set, but the Lady Lions had just enough to take the decision.

Lamar opened the match with a 3-0 run on a Lion service error, an ace by Abigale Nash, and a kill by Kayla Neumann, but SLU used a 7-1 run to jump out ahead, 7-4. Lamar fought back within one point three times - 7-6, 9-8, and 11-10, but an 8-0 run by Southeastern gave the Lady Lions just too much of a cushion. LU outscored Southeastern 8-6 in the closing moments but fell 25-18.

Another big run early on in the second set again gave Southeastern plenty to work with; SLU took 11 of the first 14 points. Lamar fought back with a 6-3 scoring onslaught of its own fueled by aces from Neumann and Dannisha House and a Nash kill, but the gap was just too big. The Cards matched the Lady Lions point for point in the rest of the set but just couldn't make up the lead, falling again 25-18.

11 ties and two lead changes defined a considerably contested third frame. Nash took the first point of the set on a kill but SLU tied up the game and took the lead with three straight points. The Lady Lions held the lead all the way until Lamar took over 13-12, and from that point forward Big Red didn't look back. SLU would tie the match up six times but LU would answer them in kind, and with the match tied at 24-24 a Nash kill and an attack error from Southeastern Louisiana spelled a 26-24 set win for Lamar.

Lamar kept the final frame close with four ties early on including at 5-5, but SLU captured 12 of the next 17 points to lead 17-10. The Cardinals would fight back within one point late, 22-21, thanks to several kills by Nash and House, and would stay within two points of the Lady Lions the rest of the match, but in the end Southeastern took the game 25-23 and the match 3-1.

The Cardinals return to action on Thursday when they return home to host Stephen F. Austin (14-1, 2-0 SLC).

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