BEAUMONT, Texas – The start of a new month means the start of a new season for teams that didn't get to host their regular season during the fall semester. The Lamar University Cardinal volleyball team will kick off the 2021 spring season Tuesday with a Southland Conference match against New Orleans. It will be one of two matches for the Red and White during the first week of the season (Southeastern Louisiana).
 
The volleyball team was one of a handful of LU teams that was scheduled to play during the fall when the Southland Conference elected to push the season back to the spring semester. During the extended offseason, the conference comprised a 12-match league schedule that will run through the end of March. Each team will rotate with two home matches followed by two away matches.
 
Despite the delayed start to the season, the Cardinals took advantage of the Southland's ruling which allowed fall sport teams to play limited non-conference competitions. The Cardinals enter the spring officially 0-5 on the season after facing UL Monroe and doubleheaders against Stephen F. Austin (non-conference) and UL Lafayette. Big Red kicks off the spring against a Privateer squad (0-2/0-0 SLC) that has two non-conference matches under their belt but got an earlier start to the spring season. UNO opened the year at Tulane back on Jan. 23^rd and dropped a close 3-2 match to the Green Wave. The Privateers followed that up with a 3-0 loss at Southern Miss. Tuesday's match will serve as the Southland Conference opener for both teams. UNO is looking to bounce back from a 13-18 (.419) season a year ago that saw them go 6-10 (.375) in conference play.
 
Big Red leads the all-time series over New Orleans, 27-18 (.600), a mark that includes an 11-5 (.688) record at home. The two schools have split the last 10 meetings.
 
The Cardinals will be back on the court Friday to take a Southeastern Louisiana squad that is looking to bounce back from a 14-17 campaign last season. Despite the sub .500 record, the Lions posted an 8-8 (.500) record in Southland Conference play. The Lions enter the week with a 2-1 (.667) overall record, having defeated Tulane and Southern Mississippi to start the season. The Lions' lone loss came in a rematch with Southern Miss. Southeastern will open conference play Thursday at McNeese before making the drive over to Beaumont.
 
The Cardinals lead the all-time series over Southeastern, 29-10 (.744), a mark which includes a 16-3 (.842) record in Beaumont. Unfortunately the series have evened up over the past couple seasons which each team winning five matches. The two schools split the season series last year with each team winning on their home floor.
 
The match against Southeastern Louisiana will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday from the Montagne Center. Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.