BEAUMONT, Texas – In what has been the most unique offseason in program history, the Lamar University volleyball team will look to return to a form of normalcy Friday when they travel to Stephen F. Austin to play in three matches over the course of the next two days – all three matches will be listed as non-conference matches.
 
The Cardinals kick off the weekend with a doubleheader Friday. LU steps on the court first to face Louisiana-Monroe at 10:30 a.m., followed by host Stephen F. Austin at 2:30 p.m. Big Red will close out the two-days with a rematch against the Lumberjacks Saturday at 2:30 p.m. All three matches will be played at Shelton Gym.
 
"It's incredibly exciting not just for me and the staff but the team as a whole," said first-year LU head coach Jordan Lay. "This team has really been through the ringer – as so many teams have – during this unique time with COVID. Just to have the opportunity to get out there and play a match is an incredibly exciting feeling. My hope is that this will lead to more optimism as we prepare for a season in the spring."
 
Lay is in his first season with the Cardinals taking over the program in January, but it has been a bumpy start to his first season at the helm – and it has nothing to do with what has happened on the court. Just like all other sports, the LU volleyball team was shut down in the midst of spring camp last season due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Players eventually reported to campus for the start of fall practice only to have the Southland Conference postpone all fall 2020 competition for the sports of cross country, volleyball, soccer and football. The Southland did leave available the opportunity for each school to pursue limited non-conference competition granting Lay the opportunity to coach some matches during the fall.
 
Lay's youthful squad will be looking to bounce back from a 9-17 (.346) season that saw the Red and White go 4-12 (.250) in conference matches.
 
SFA enters the weekend series with a 1-1 (.500) overall record after splitting matches with Central Arkansas (W, 3-1) and Texas State (L, 3-0).
 
Friday's match against Louisiana-Monroe will also be the season opener for the Warhawks. Separate from Big Red and SFA, the Warhawks will be playing a Sun Belt Conference schedule during the fall. The match against LU will be one of four non-conference matches for ULM – with all four being against Southland opponents.
 
"Obviously, we want to win – that is always the primary goal – but after all the setbacks due to the pandemic it is going to be nice to compete again," said Lay. "It has been long time since our ladies have been able to compete against another team. To be able to step on the court and compete against teams as talented as SFA and Louisiana-Monroe is a big deal, especially during this time of COVID."
 
Both matches will against SFA will be aired live on ESPN3.