BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University recorded a .280 attack percentage (52-17-125) and jumped out to a quick start against New Orleans and never looked back defeating the Privateers, 3-1 (25-14, 25-19, 21-25, 25-12), Thursday evening at McDonald Gym.
 
The victory – LU's first Southland win of the season – put an end to an eight-match slide and handed the Cardinals (7-12/1-7 Southland) the season series over UNO, 3-1.
 
Led by three Cardinals in double figures (Kaitlyn Gil and Amber Johnson – 12 kills and Wiktoria Warpechowska – 10), LU jumped out to a big early lead and rode that momentum to a 2-0 advantage. The Cardinals scored the first four points of the opening set and pushed their lead to as many as 10 before winning four of the final five points to take the opening set.
 
The first set was never in doubt as Big Red posted a .333 attack percentage. Despite hitting just .088 in the second set, the Cardinals took a 5-1 advantage early in the set. The second-set lead grew to as many as six before the Privateers scored five straight to pull within a point late in the set but after a timeout the Cardinals rallied to take the set and a commanding 2-0 lead.
 
The Cardinals were more consistent in the third set, outhit UNO and again took a big set lead, but this time the visitors mounted a rally and managed to get a lead and hold on for the third set victory. Their momentum was short lived as LU answered back with determination in the fourth recording a 15-2-19 (.448) attack effort to put New Orleans away in the third by 13 points.
 
The Cardinals will look to make it two in a row Saturday when they host rival McNeese. The match against the Cowgirls will begin at 1 p.m. from McDonald Gym.