NORFOLK, Va. – In their first day of action this season, Lamar University volleyball dropped their first two matches against Miami (OH) and Norfolk State. The Cardinals finish tournament play Saturday morning against Gardner-Webb at 9 a.m.
 
The Cardinals finished Game 1 hitting 34-16-99 (.182) from the floor along with five aces, but eight reception errors and five service errors cost the team dearly. Lyric Jordan led Big Red with 11 kills while Taisha Rhone chipped in seven kills and nine digs.
 
Lamar hit 32-14-100 (.180) in Game 2 with six aces and four blocks, but seven reception errors and seven service errors again proved costly. Jordan added 13 kills to her daily tally while a pair of freshmen stood out with Maja Malinowska chipping in eight kills while Keeley Nellis recorded a team-high 15 digs.
 
Game 1: Miami (OH) 3, Lamar 0
 
Neither team held more than a three-point advantage in a back-and-forth first set. The Cardinals held off three consecutive match points to keep the set alive, but three consecutive RedHawk points out of a late timeout sealed the deal.
 
Lamar found themselves in a big hole early in the second set before a rally led by aces from Keeley Nellis and Jordan brought Big Red within two. Late kills from Miami (OH), however, would prove to be difference as the RedHawks held on to double their lead.
 
The RedHawks jumped out to an early lead in the third set despite aces from Taisha Rhone and Alexa Gonzalez. They would then score the final eight points of the set to close out the match.
 
Game 2: Norfolk State 3, Lamar 0
 
The first set was and back-and-forth affair early on before an 8-2 run pushed the Spartan lead out of reach. Six attack errors by the Cardinals ended up biting them down the stretch.
 
After an early deficit in the second set, Big Red would fight back to take the lead late behind nine combined kills from Jordan and Malinowska. The Spartans would finish the set on a 5-1 run, though, after a timely timeout.
 
The Cardinals led for the majority of the third set behind 10 assist from Alexa Gonzalez. Despite having multiple match points at the end, though, the Spartans would ultimately rally to finish off the match with three consecutive kills.