NORFOLK, Va. – A career-high 24 kills from Lyric Jordan and double-double from Maja Malinowska (11 kills, 20 digs) were not enough as Lamar University volleyball came up short in their final opening weekend match against Gardner-Webb, 3-1 (25-18, 25-20, 21-25, 25-15), Saturday morning.
 
Along with Malinowska, four Cardinals recorded double-digit dig totals including Keeley Nellis (16), Taisha Rhone (15) and Alexa Gonzalez (12). Rhone finished two kills shy of a double-double with eight while Malinowska also assisted four blocks.
 
Lamar finished the match hitting 55-24-165 (.188) from the floor along with five aces and six blocks. However, 24 attacking errors and 11 service errors would prove costly for the Cardinals.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs ended the match with an attack rate of 23.7 percent (52-15-156). They also recorded eight aces to go with nine blocks.
 
Gardner-Webb started the first set on an 8-1 run and would not trail the rest of the way. The Cardinals pulled within three points late behind kills from Malinowska and Jordan, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.
 
Another early lead for Gardner-Webb formed in the second set but Big Red fought back to tie it at 17-all with strong performances from Jordan and Annie Cathey. A late spurt from the Runnin' Bulldogs, however, would result in Lamar dropping the set.
 
The third set would be a back-and-forth affair with both teams tied at 20 late. The Cardinals would then score the last five points, three from Jordan and two from Rhone, to keep their match hope alive.
 
Big Red found themselves in an early hole in the fourth set with attacking errors biting them. Eight kills from Lyric Jordan could not overcome the early deficit as the Runnin' Bulldogs ran away with the victory.
 
Lamar returns to Texas but stays on the road as they travel to Houston to take on Prairie View A&M on Tuesday at 6 p.m.