BEAUMONT, Texas — Kinley Elms had a solid performance with 20 kills against the defending regular season champion Southeastern Louisiana Lions on Thursday night at the McDonald Gym.

Lamar University's volleyball team couldn't avoid the sweep despite putting up a fight.

The Lions have now won 36 consecutive conference matches.

Southeastern Louisiana began the first set scoring three unanswered points before the Cardinals answered with a 3-0 run of their own.

Elms had two kills while Alexa Gonzalez served up an ace during the run.

The Lions regained the lead after a pair of kills.

LU managed to keep it close, within one point on two occasions after kills from Elms and Taisha Rhone.

Southeastern Louisiana then gained some ground, going on a 4-0 run to lead by six.

The Lions ended up increasing their lead to nine.

Highlighted by another kill from Elms, the Cardinals took advantage of three attack errors to put together a 4-0 run, cutting the deficit to five.

Rhone tallied back-to-back kills to get the Cardinals within four, but the Lions were able to hold on.

LU held a one-point lead to start the second set until the Lions went on a 5-0 run to take an 8-4 lead.

Southeastern Louisiana led by four in the middle of the set.

The Cardinals then brewed up a 3-0 run that saw back-to-back kills from Elms to cut the deficit to one.

LU kept clawing its way back, trailing by one late in the set, but the Lions closed things out with a 4-0 run to take a 2-0 advantage in the match.

The final set featured five ties in the score.

Southeastern Louisiana jumped out to a 4-1 lead until Elms and Rhone tallied two kills to cut the deficit to one.

The Lions went up by two before the Cardinals tied up the score with two unanswered points that included a kill from Hailey McEllrath.

The score was tied once more until the Lions pulled ahead with a two-point lead.

All the momentum shifted over to the Cardinals as they surged ahead to a four-point lead after going on a 6-0 run.

Maja Malinowska had two kills during the run while Elms had one.

LU's lead increased to five after a pair of kills from Daniella Udegbunam and Rhone.

The Cardinals kept up the momentum, leading 20-17 after another kill by Elms.

Just five points away from forcing a fourth set, the Lions shifted back into third gear going on a 5-0 run to take a 22-20 lead.

LU kept it close down the final stretch, but ultimately the Lions got the match point.

MATCH NOTES

• Elms had a season-high 20 kills while she also had three digs and one block assist.
• Rhone finished with 14 kills and six digs.
• Malinowska added with seven kills and 15 digs.
• Gonzalez tallied a season-high 41 assists along with eight digs.
• Gabby Baker led the back row with 17 digs.
• Udegbunam finished with three total blocks and one kill.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals conclude the three-game homestand at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 against New Orleans.