BEAUMONT, Texas — Lamar University volleyball bounced back Saturday afternoon with a four-set win over the New Orleans Privateers, 25-27, 25-17, 25-20, 25-13, at the McDonald Gym.

The Cardinals erased their three-game losing streak and improved to 33-22 all-time against the Privateers.

"Job well done. I thought that we put ourselves in a good position to be successful today," said head coach Ariel Apolinario. "We're still kind of dealing with some things internally. I thought that we handled it extremely well.

"We were ready for the challenge. Credit to New Orleans. I think they are a much-improved team."

The score was tied three times early in the first set before the Cardinals used a 4-0 run to take the lead.

New Orleans changed the tide of the game when it used a 3-0 run to take a one-point lead.

The Cardinals surged back with a 5-0 run to lead 13-9.

Using a pair of 3-0 runs, the Privateers came back to take a one-point lead.

There were five different lead changes down the stretch until New Orleans closed out the set scoring two unanswered points to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

LU trailed 3-1 early in the second set until it went on a 5-0 run to take a three-point lead. Kinley Elms served up a pair of aces and tallied a kill to highlight the run.

The pendulum shifted back over to the Privateers after they scored four unanswered points to lead, 8-7.

After the lead changed hands seven times, the Cardinals went on a 7-0 run to lead by six. Elms tallied a pair of kills while Lyric Jordan had one during the offensive surge.

The Cardinals closed out the set outscoring New Orleans, 5-2, to tie up the match. Hailey McEllrath notched the set point.

During the third set, the score was tied 10 times until the Cardinals had a late surge, outscoring New Orleans, 6-1, to lead by five.

New Orleans served one into the net to give the Cardinals a 2-1 advantage.

It was a tight start to the fourth set until LU went ahead by four using a 5-0 run.

The Privateers retaliated with a 4-0 run of their own, tying the score at nine-all.

LU gained some breathing room by outscoring New Orleans, 11-1. Maja Malinowska tallied five kills during the surge.

Holding a 10-point lead, the Cardinals never trailed as they closed out the set on a 4-0 run that ended up with a kill from Elms to seal the victory.

"I felt that we stayed composed enough to do what we wanted to do," Apolinario added. "We had multiple people that were scoring at a high level.

"I think that there's another level to this group which is always exciting. I'm pleased with the outcome and now we get to move forward."

MATCH NOTES

• Elms led the way with 20 kills, five service aces and eight digs.
• Malinowska finished with 19 kills, one solo block and 15 digs.
• McEllrath tallied nine kills, one service ace and four digs.
• Alexa Gonzalez helped the offense with 43 assists while she also tallied eight digs, one service ace and three kills.
• Gabby Baker led the back row with 23 digs while Keeley Nellis tallied 12.
• The LU offense tallied its second highest hitting percentage of the season after posting a percentage of .275. The highest percentage was .285 vs. Cal State Fullerton.
• LU also tallied the most kills in a match this season finishing with 59.

UP NEXT

LU travels to McNeese for a 6:30 p.m. match on Thursday, Oct. 9.