BEAUMONT, Texas – After capping nonconference play by winning eight of their last nine matches, Lamar University volleyball enters the Southland portion of their schedule with back-to-back road trips. They start off with two-time defending champions Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. before facing New Orleans on Saturday at 1 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Lamar (8-4) started off the week with a win in their home opener against Prairie View A&M, marking the first victory at McDonald Gym for head coach Ariel Apolinario. The Cardinals added two more wins against in-state opponents in the Bearkat Classic taking a five-set thriller against Sam Houston on Friday before finishing the weekend with a sweep of Texas Southern on Saturday.
 
KEY STORYLINES
After a winless nonconference campaign last season, the Cardinals find themselves off to their best start since 2015 when the team started 10-4. Big Red have in sight their first double-digit win season since then and potentially their first winning season since 2009.
 
Apolinario's tenure as head coach is off to a flying start with his ballclub leading the Southland Conference in hitting percentage (.228), a statistic they ranked last in just last season (.143). They also lead the league in aces/set (1.81) while ranking second in points/set (16.76), kills/set (13.17) and digs/set (16.36).
 
A youth movement has led to mass improvement across the board this year buoyed in large part by newcomers. Five of the team's top seven players in terms of sets played are freshmen while returners such as Lyric Jordan and Taisha Rhone have also made jumps from year one to year two.
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Maja Malinowska has established herself as the primary scoring option offensively with back-to-back SLC Offensive Player of the Week honors and back-to-back tournament MVPs. She recorded a career-high 33 kills against SHSU, the most by a player from the Southland Conference since 2016 and the most by a Cardinal since Natalie Sarver in 2002. Malinowska leads the Southland in kills/set (4.32) and ranks second nationally among freshmen while also compiled seven double doubles with kills and digs this season including actively three in a row.
 
Alexa Gonzalez continues to impress at the setter position as she posted her first two career games with more than 50 assists last week against PVAMU (51) and SHSU (59). This was enough to earn her SLC setter of the week honors and a spot on the all-tournament team for the second weekend in a row. She leads the Southland in assists/set (10.79) and ranks second nationally among freshmen.
 
Keeley Nellis has also enjoyed a great start to her Cardinal career as she ranks second in the Southland in both digs/set (4.71) and aces/set (0.50). Nationally, she places third among freshman in digs/set and seventh in aces/set.
 
OPPONENT INFO: Southeastern Louisiana (8-4)
Time: Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Series Record: LU 30-14
Last Meeting: SLU 3-0 (11/9/23)
 
After losing their first four games, the Lions enter this match riding an eight-game win streak which includes a win over preseason Southland favorite Stephen F. Austin. SLU is starting their quest for their third consecutive conference championship while Lamar looks to get their first win in Hammond, La. since 2017.
 
Much of this game could be decided at the net as SLU leads the Southland in blocks/set (2.66) but will face a Cardinal offense that has allowed the fewest opponent blocks/set (1.68). Keira Beverly has twice won SLC defensive player of the week honors leading the conference in blocks/set (1.36) while also ranking second in hitting percentage (.361).
 
OPPONENT INFO: New Orleans (2-10)
Time: Saturday at 1 p.m.
Series Record: LU 30-22
Last Meeting: UNO 3-0 (11/11/23)
 
The Privateers are off to a rough start this season with a 2-10 record but have had recent success against the Cardinals winning three of the last four meetings. Lamar looks to snap a four-game losing streak in the Big Easy dating back to 2016.
 
UNO have struggled offensively ranking last in the Southland in point/set (13.02), hitting percentage (.123) and assists/set (9.45). They are led by Chelsea Daffin in kills/set (2.33) and digs/set (2.88).