BEAUMONT, Texas – After dropping the first set, the Lamar University volleyball team continued to battle back against Southeastern Louisiana to force a fifth, but came up just short Tuesday, 3-2 (25-17, 23-25, 25-22, 19-25, 15-9).
 
The Cardinals (1-11/1-6 Southland) recorded a .224 attack percentage on the night (51-21-134) behind 12 kills from Bre'Ala Box, Kayla Neumann and Kaitlyn Gil. Big Red also finished the day with nine blocks, but all of that wasn't enough to overcome the errors.
 
The Cards surrendered nine points on ballhandling errors and service errors to go along with 11 blocking errors and five setting errors. Despite the miscues, the Cardinals fought back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to play into the fifth.
 
Southeastern Louisiana recorded 10 more swings than LU finishing the night with 58 kills and 23 attack errors (.243). The Lions were led by Kailin Newsome's 22 kills.
 
The visitors had their own struggles controlling the ball. The Lions ended the match with 14 service errors, nine reception errors and seven attack errors.
 
After an eight-point setback in the opening set, the Cardinals rallied from four down late (19-15) to snag a two-point decision in the second set. Unfortunately, that momentum didn't carry over into the third as LU once against found itself down four late (20-16). Big Red pulled to within one, but SLU held on for the victory.
 
Once again clawing their way back, the Cardinals pushed their way in front in the fourth set to take a three-point lead midway through. The match remained close, but the Cardinals held off Southeastern not allowing them a run greater than three-points as LU recorded the six-point victory.
 
In the deciding set, Southeastern raced out to a 9-3 advantage and held off any late run from the Cardinals.
 
Big Red returns to action Saturday when they travel to Thibodaux, La., to face Nicholls. The match against the Colonels is slated to begin at 11 a.m. from Stopher Gym.