ARLINGTON, Texas – Less than two days after dropping a heartbreaking 3-2 decision at Prairie View A&M, the Lamar University volleyball team managed to exact a bit of revenge Friday afternoon against Prairie View A&M. Facing the Panthers for a second-straight match, the Cardinals defeated PVAMU, 3-2 (19-25, 25-22, 25-14, 14-25, 15-9), in the opening round of the UTA Invitational.
 
The match was an almost mirrored reflection of the match Thursday night with both teams having chances, scoring runs answered by opposite rallies, and the team that won the team that won the third set falling in the fourth only to rally for a victory in five.
 
Neither team was great on the attack as the match came down to turnovers and LU managed the limit their miscues slightly better than Prairie View. The Cardinals were 49-25-166 (.145) while the Panthers managed a 52-27-170 (.147) effort. The Panthers also gave away 10 points on serves.
 
Led by 16 kills and 12 digs from Kaitlyn Gil, and 11 kills (.292 attack percentage) from newcomer Nylah Encalade, the Cardinals managed to battle back from early 1-0 set deficit. After tying the match in the second LU appeared to be applying the knockout punch in the third with a 25-14 decision.
 
In a stunning twist of fortune, the 11-point deficit woke up PVAMU as the Panthers responded in kind with a 25-14 victory of their own in the set. Refusing to quit, the Cardinals gave PVAMU a taste of their own medicine by bouncing right back in the fifth cruising to a 15-9 decision for the set and the match.
 
It's a short turnaround for the Red and White as they will face New Orleans (non-conference) and UT Arlington Saturday to close out the UTA Invitational. The first match (against the Privateers) will begin at 11 a.m.