HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Lamar University had three players record double-figure kills to win a back-and-forth match over Eastern Kentucky, 3-2 (27-25, 23-25, 25-23, 21-25, 15-8), to close out the Southern Mississippi Invitational.
 
The Cardinals (4-9) recorded a .202 attack percentage (58-22-178), with seven service aces and 32 total blocks (30 block assists). LU's defense held the Colonels to a .177 performance.
 
Junior Kaitlyn Gil led the Cardinals with 14 kills, while freshman Emily Surin added 11 on 30 swings. Juinor Malaysia Murdock tacked on 10 kills (.385 attack percentage) to go along with nine blocks and five digs.
 
The youthful Cards showed a great deal of poise in the opening set falling behind by seven early, 12-5. Big Red responded by rattling off 11-5 run to pull within a point and force EKU to burn one of their two timeouts. Coming out of the stoppage, the Cardinals put on more steam claiming their first lead just moments later and built their advantage to two points late forcing another Colonel timeout. The set went to overtime before LU posted the 27-25 victory.
 
The Cardinals recorded 18 kills (.235 attack percentage) while recording nine blocks (eight assists and one solo) to pick up the opening-set win.
 
The second set was the reverse of the first as LU found itself down by three, 12-9, only to rally for a late three-point lead, 21-18. The two teams found themselves all tied up at 23 before the Colonels scored the final two points even the match at one.
 
The third set watched LU score the first three points before EKU got on the board. The Cardinals build their lead to as many as four before Eastern Kentucky rattled off a 13-7 run to claim a two-point lead, 17-15. LU trailed 20-17 before rallying late to take the third and reclaim the overall advantage.
 
EKU jumped out to an early lead in the fourth to force a fifth in final set. In the final set the Cardinals left no doubt jumping out to a big lead and never looking back to lock up the victory, 15-8.
 
The Cardinals return to action Tuesday when they travel to Lafayette, La., to take on UL Lafayette. The match against the Ragin' Cajuns will begin at 6 p.m.