BEAUMONT, Texas – Junior Kaitlyn Gil recorded a match-high 13 kills, 16 digs and four blocks on the final day of the Lamar Invitational but it wasn't enough to hold off Northwestern State. The Demons rallied from an early deficit to defeat LU, 3-1 (18-25, 25-13, 26-24, 25-18) Saturday afternoon at McDonald Gym.
 
The loss drops Big Red to 3-7 (.300) on the season as they finish third in the tournament.
 
The Cardinals finished the day hitting .152 (45-23-145), with the lone set victory coming in the opener (where they hit .154 as a team). Big Red posted its best performance of the day in the third set with a .268 average (15-4-41), but Northwestern State matched the Cardinals in that frame and rallied for the win.
 
The Cardinals recorded an impressive seven-point victory in the first set after jumping out to a big lead to start the match. Unfortunately, LU couldn't turn the victory into momentum as the Demons flipped things around on the Cardinals in the second.
 
The third set was a slugfest that saw LU take a three-point lead late, 23-20. Northwestern State managed to rally for a one-point advantage before taking the set, 26-24, and claim their first lead of the day. The fourth set was a back-and-forth affair until late when the Demons grabbed a small advantage and held on for the seven-point victory.
 
Freshman Emily Surin joined Gil in double figures with 10 kills on 23 attempts to go along with four block assists. Classmate Grace Nichols recorded seven kills while posting a .417 attack percentage.

Sophomore setter Hannah Waters was named to the all-tournament team. She finished the day with 20 assists, 11 digs and one service ace.
 
The Red and White will be back in action Saturday when they travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., to compete in the Southern Mississippi Volleyball Classic. The Cardinals will play two matches Friday (vs. Chattanooga and Southern Miss), before closing things out against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday.