BEAUMONT, Texas – A road-weary Lamar University volleyball team will be back on the road for three of its next four beginning Thursday when they travel to Lake Charles, La. to face McNeese and two days later to square off against Nicholls. 
 
Not yet to the midway point of the conference season, the youthful Cardinals will look to right the ship no a tough start on the season. Big Red (0-16/0-5 Southland) is currently tied with Nicholls in the standings and just one win back of seventh place in the conference with still 13 conference tilts remaining on the 2023 docket. 
 
The Cardinals have been playing improved volleyball the past two weeks with two of their last four matches being pushed to a fifth set with chances to win in the fourth and fifth sets only to see the opponents make a furious rally late. 
 
The Cardinals have been dealt a tough hand all season with multiple starters out for every single match entering the week. Outside of the team's intrasquad scrimmage, the Cardinals have not yet been able to run with their original starters this season. 
 
The Cowgirls have jumped out of the gates quickly in Southland Conference play. After a 2-11 start to the season, McNeese has posted a 4-1 mark in league play and sit in a three-way tie for second just a win back of first in the standings. McNeese heads into the midweek match having their recent four-match win streak snapped last time out at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
 
The Cardinals lead the all-time series, 46-33, but McNeese has had the upper hand lately winning four straight and eight of nine. LU is 13-21 all-time in Lake Charles. Thursday's game is slated for a 6:30 p.m. start.
 
The Colonels have had an equally frustrating start to season posting a 2-11 record to open the year and tied with Big Red at 0-5 in Southland Conference play. Nicholls enters the week having lost eight-straight matches. Lamar is 30-14 all-time against Nicholls, which includes a 10-7 record in Thibodaux, La. Saturday's match is set for an 11 a.m. start.