BEAUMONT, Texas – As the race for the postseason heats up, Lamar University volleyball prepares to face the two toughest opponents left on their schedule this week. They head west on I-10 for a Cardinal showdown against Incarnate Word on Thursday at 6 p.m. before returning home to face UT Rio Grande Valley on Saturday at 11 a.m. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
LAST TIME OUT
Lamar (12-10, 4-6 SLC) split their contests last week falling on the road to Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday evening before getting back into the win column with a home win over Northwestern State on Thursday evening.
KEY STORYLINES
Big Red currently sit in seventh place in the Southland standings with the opportunity to climb as high as fifth by the end of the week. With six matches remaining in the season, the Cardinals need to remain in the top eight to clinch a postseason berth.
After this week, Lamar finishes the regular season with home-and-homes against Nicholls and McNeese, who both sit below them in the conference standings. The outcomes of these games will likely determine their fate as far as conference tournament seeding is concerned.
The Cardinal roster has started to get healthier which will be key moving into the stretch run of the season.
Maja Malinowska was back in action last Thursday after missing Tuesday's match at SFA while
Emily Moon and
Hailey McEllrath are expected to be back in action soon after missing time last week.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
After her absence against SFA, Malinowska was able to return to form against NSU with her second consecutive 16-kill performance. She ranks third in the conference in kills (3.85/set) and ninth in digs (3.26/set) while tallying ten double-doubles on the season.
Keeley Nellis has enjoyed a stellar freshman season in the libero role for the Cardinals. She is tied for the team lead in sets played (74) while ranking fourth in the Southland in digs (4.51/set) and sixth in aces (0.38/set).
Taisha Rhone has grown defensively as the season has gone on shown by her recording four double-digit dig totals over the last five games. She also ranks eighth in the Southland in aces (0.34/set) while also being tied for the team lead in sets played.
OPPONENT INFO: Incarnate Word (12-7, 5-4 SLC)
Time: Thursday at 6 p.m.
Series Record: UIW 12-3
Last Meeting: UIW 3-0 (10/28/23)
After a 2-4 start in conference play, UIW has reeled off three straight victories only losing one set in that span. They currently sit fifth in the Southland standings, just 1.5 games ahead of Lamar.
Kade Thomas has been a defensive force for UIW this season ranking sixth in the Southland in blocks (1.03/set) and eighth in hitting percentage (.320). She is one of six players for Incarnate Word who average more than two points per game for a wide-spread offensive unit.
OPPONENT INFO: UT Rio Grande Valley (12-8, 8-2 SLC)
Time: Saturday at 11 a.m.
Series Record: LU 28-8
Last Meeting: UTRGV 3-0 (11/6/21)
An old conference foe returns to McDonald Gym on Saturday as Lamar welcomes UTRGV for their first matchup as Southland opponents. The Vaqueros enter this week winners of six straight matches which sees them in fourth place in the conference standings.
UTRGV leads the Southland with nine player of the week honors so far this season including four setter of the week nods for Isabella Costantini, the conference leader in assists (11.05/set) and aces (0.44/set). Ilana De Assis (3.88/set) and Claudia Lupescu (3.78/set) rank second and fourth in the Southland in kills, respectively, while Celianiz Cabranes ranks third in digs (4.71/set).
