BEAUMONT, Texas — It was a defining week for Lamar University volleyball.
The Cardinals secured back-to-back Southland Conference victories for the first time this season, sweeping East Texas A&M, 25-19, 25-21, 25-17, Saturday afternoon at McDonald Gym.
Lamar improved to 5-5 in conference play and moved into a two-way tie for fifth place, following losses by McNeese, Northwestern State and A&M-Corpus Christi.
In the opening set, Lamar broke a 4-4 tie with a 5-0 run fueled by kills from
Kinley Elms,
Maja Malinowska and
Grace Hill.
East Texas A&M later trimmed the deficit to one before using a 3-1 stretch to even the score at 15-15.
The Cardinals answered with a decisive 5-0 run that featured a kill by Malinowska, a tandem block from Malinowska and
Saida Maksoud, and an ace from
Gabby Baker.
Holding a five-point advantage, Lamar never looked back.
Nisaan Martinez recorded three of the Cardinals' final four kills to secure the set.
Lamar jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the second set before the Lions responded with seven consecutive points to take an 8-3 advantage.
The Cardinals surged back with a 9-0 run highlighted by five Malinowska kills and another Baker ace.
Lamar stretched the lead to seven with three straight points. Elms and Malinowska each added a kill during the run while
Alexa Gonzalez chipped in an ace.
East Texas A&M later trimmed the deficit to three with a 3-1 run, but the Cardinals closed the set by narrowly outscoring the Lions, 3-2. Malinowska delivered the final kill to seal the four-point victory and a 2-0 match lead.
There were no ties in the third set as Lamar never trailed.
The Cardinals built an early five-point cushion with four consecutive points.
Katelyn Hughes recorded two aces during the stretch while
Rihanna Bryant added a kill.
Lamar extended its lead to 10 points by outscoring East Texas A&M, 7-1. Malinowska recorded two kills during the run, Bryant added another, and Gonzalez served an ace.
The Lions eventually cut the deficit in half, but the Cardinals maintained control.
Lamar closed the match on a 4-1 run. Hill recorded two kills and Martinez added another before
Gabrielle St. Louis finished off the sweep with the match-clinching kill off an assist from Hughes.
MATCH NOTES
- Malinowska recorded her 11th double-double of the season, finishing with 14 kills, 10 digs, one assist and one block assist.
- Hill and Martinez added nine kills apiece. Hill also recorded two digs while Martinez contributed a block assist.
- Bryant finished with six kills and a block assist.
- Hughes posted her sixth double-double of the season with 17 assists, 10 digs and two aces. Gonzalez added 16 assists, six digs and two aces.
- Baker anchored the back row with 18 digs while adding six assists and two aces. Coy chipped in with nine digs.
- As a team, the Cardinals recorded six aces, six block assists and two solo blocks. Maksoud led the effort at the net with two solo blocks and two block assists.
UP NEXT
Lamar travels to Stephen F. Austin for a Southland Conference match at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29.
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