FLORENCE, Ala. – First-year Lamar University head coach Brandon Crisp recorded his first Cardinal win after recording a split on the opening day of the UNA Volleyball Classic. The Cardinals defeated New Orleans, 3-1 (22-25, 27-25, 26-24, 25-17), in the opening match of the day but dropped a 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-9) decision to tournament host North Alabama in the evening match.
 
Senior Kaitlyn Gil led the Cardinals with 24 kills and 21 digs on the day, followed by sophomore Paige Dugan's 22 kills and 27 digs.
 
After the opening set was tied at 5 in the first match, the Privateers rattled off a 5-1 run to take their biggest lead of the set. Despite a late 3-0 run from LU to trim the deficit down to two points, New Orleans managed to hold on for the opening-set victory.
 
The Cardinals responded in the second set. The second was close throughout but LU found itself down three midway through, 13-10. The Cardinals responded with a 4-0 run off the serve of Gil to claim their first lead of the set. Big Red took advantage of New Orleans' miscues (three-straight attack errors) to surge in front.
 
Following a Paige Dugan kill and service ace the Cardinals pushed their lead to two points, 18-16. The set would be extended past 25 points but the Cardinals prevailed, 27-25, to even things up. The third set was almost a mirrored image of the second as it went to extended play before LU wrapped up a 26-24 victory.
 
The fourth set followed suit with the others being close early. Trailing by a point, the Cardinals scored 10 of the next 13 points to take a 12-7 lead. The run included a stretch of four consecutive points as the Red and White never trailed the rest of the way recording an eight-point victory for their first win of the season.
 
The Cardinals outhit UNO in the first match of the day. Big Red recorded 53 kills, with a .192 attack percentage and held their opponents to 10 fewer kills (.109). Gil led the way with 17 kills to go along with 16 digs, three aces and a block. Dugan added 16 kills, 15 digs and two aces.
 
LU faced the homestanding Lions in the second match, but UNA had too much firepower. Big Red returns to action Saturday to face Grambling State. The match against the Lady Tigers will begin at 11 a.m.