CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Lamar University dropped a four-set match at A&M-Corpus Christi, 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-21, 25-9), in the regular-season finale Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals finish the season 1-16 overall and 1-11 in Southland Conference play.
Big Red finished the day with a .267 attack percentage (49-17-120) led by 15 kills from
Abigale Nash (.324) and 14 from
Bre'Ala Box (.375), but it wasn't enough to slow down an Islander offense that recorded a .381 swing percentage (52-9-113).
The Cardinals hit .258 in the first set, including five kills (.429 attack percentage) from Box but found themselves down, 21-16, late in the set. The Islanders rattled off a 4-2 run down the stretch to pick up a seven-point opening-set victory.
The Cardinals came out on fire in the second set putting A&M-Corpus Christi back on their heels. Big Red was a near perfect 18-2-30 in the second set posting a .533 attack percentage. LU jumped out to a three-point lead and managed to keep A&M-Corpus Christi at arms length until late in the set. The Islanders tied the match at 23 before LU scored the final two points of the set for the winner.
It was a different story in the third set as A&M-Corpus Christi jumped out to a five-point lead midway through the set. Already leading, 13-8, the Islanders rattled off four consecutive points to build a 17-8 advantage. A&M-Corpus Christi didn't relinquish their lead despite a late rally from the Cardinals.
In similar fashion to the third, the Islanders started the fourth quick jumping out to a three-point lead, 5-2, before rattling off an 8-2 run to take a nine-point lead, 13-4 midway through the match. A&M-Corpus Christi held on for the fourth set victory.
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