MONROE, La. — A sweep was imminent as the Lamar University volleyball team had a 2-0 advantage in the match Tuesday night against the University of Louisiana Monroe.

UL Monroe ended up battling back to win the next three sets to take the match in five at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

The Cardinals were down early in the opening set before going on a 5-1 run to take a three-point lead.

UL Monroe answered back with a 4-0 run to regain the lead, but the Cardinals scored four unanswered points to swing the momentum back in their favor.

LU never trailed from that point as it went ahead by five points after Lyric Jordan served up an ace and tallied a kill.

The Cardinals kept their foot on the accelerator, closing out the set on a 5-1 run. Sydnee Griffen had two kills during the run, including the set point.

LU had to overcome another deficit early in the second set, trailing by five.

Taking advantage of some offensive miscues by UL Monroe, the Cardinals went on a 4-1 run to take the lead.

The score ended up being tied seven times until the Cardinals tallied the final two points to squeeze out the win.

LU carried that positive momentum into the third set as Jordan tallied the first two points with a pair of kills, sparking a 9-1 run. Taisha Rhone added to the hot start with two kills.

Rhone got another kill to put her team up by 10.

UL Monroe used a 6-1 run to cut the deficit.

The set then went in favor of UL Monroe as it used a 4-0 run to tie up the score at 20-all.

LU took a one-point lead with a kill by Rhone, but UL Monroe responded by closing out the set on a 5-0 run.

UL Monroe never trailed in the fourth set, leading by eight in the middle of the game.

To force a deciding fifth set, UL Monroe closed things out on a 6-1 run.

The Cardinals trailed 4-0 to start the fifth set before putting together a 4-0 run highlighted by two kills from Rhone.

UL Monroe went ahead by three and then the score was tied twice in the middle of the set.

Going on a 3-0 run, UL Monroe took the lead.

The Cardinals managed to get back within one point, but UL Monroe was able to notch the match point.

MATCH NOTES

• Rhone had a big night with 26 kills, four total blocks and five digs. She was just one kill shy of tying her career-high mark of 27 set on Oct. 7, 2023.
• The 26 kills are the most in a game this season by a Cardinal.
• Jordan finished with 11 kills, two service aces and 11 digs. Jordan has now reached 708 career kills. She entered the match three away from reaching the milestone.
• Griffen added with seven kills, two blocks and two digs.
• Emily Moon tallied five kills, three assists, two total blocks and four digs.
• Alexa Gonzalez had 23 assists, one service ace and 18 digs.
• Jo Moffitt added 16 assists, one service ace and nine digs.
• Gabby Baker led the defense with a season-high 38 digs while she had one service ace and nine assists.
• Addison Stanley had 10 digs and two service aces.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals host the Lamar Invitational on Friday, Sept. 19. LU takes on Cal State Fullerton at 1 p.m.