BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University volleyball team has a key stretch of the schedule coming up with three of their next four at home beginning with two this week against UIW (Thursday) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Saturday).
 
It has been a tough start to the 2023 campaign for the youthful Cardinals (1-19/1-8 SLC) who replaced the entire roster, except for three players and just one returning letterwinner, from last season. Despite that, the Cardinals are still very much in the hunt for a conference tournament spot which is why the upcoming stretch of matches is so key.
 
Lamar is currently ninth in the standings just a win back of New Orleans and just two back of UIW – LU's next opponent – but the Cardinals are just one win up on Nicholls. A Lamar win tonight could move the Cardinals into a tie for the final playoff spot with New Orleans, and just a win back of UIW.
 
UIW – the league's other Cardinals – are currently trying to protect their own fragile playoff spot and possibly move up the ladder in the closing weeks of the season. Despite having just three conference wins on the year, UIW (11-10/3-6 SLC) is playing some of its best volleyball right now. San Antonio's version of the Cardinals have won consecutive matches and three of its last five (with the two losses both coming in five sets).
 
The all-time history between these two schools has not been in Lamar's favor. UIW leads the series, 3-10, which includes a 2-4 record in McDonald Gym. A relatively young series, which started in 2013, has seen UIW win five straight with the last Lamar win coming in 2018.
 
The Cardinals will be back in action Saturday when they return to the friendly confines of McDonald Gym to host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (13-8/8-1 SLC). The Islanders are just a win off the league-leading pace with nine matches remaining. The Islanders have won seven straight but will be at McNeese Thursday before traveling to Beaumont.
 
The series between the two dates back to the 2000 season with the Islanders holding a slim 19-13 advantage. Lamar is 5-5 all-time at home against A&M-Corpus Christi, but the Cardinals are looking for their first victory in the season since 2011.
 
Thursday match against UIW will begin at 6 p.m. while Saturday's contest will get under way at 1 p.m. Both matches will be played at McDonald Gym and will be streamed on ESPN+.