NACOGDOCHES, Texas — After dropping the first two sets, Lamar battled back in the third, but Stephen F. Austin held off the Cardinals to complete a 25-17, 25-15, 25-23 sweep Thursday night at Debbie Humphreys Court at Shelton Gym.
SFA scored the first three points of the opening set before Lamar answered with kills from
Maja Malinowska and
Nisaan Martinez to cut the deficit to one.
The Ladyjacks responded with a 7-0 run, highlighted by three blocks, and later used a 4-0 spurt to build an 11-point advantage.
Lamar trimmed the deficit to nine as
Kinley Elms recorded a kill and teamed with
Saida Maksoud for a block.
The Cardinals continued to battle back, outscoring SFA 5-1 to get within eight. Martinez had three kills during the stretch, while Malinowska and
Grace Hill added one apiece.
A kill by Elms later pulled Lamar within seven, but Kyanna Creecy sealed the set with a kill to give SFA the first set.
SFA opened the second set on a 3-0 run before back-to-back kills from Malinowska cut the Lamar deficit to one.
The Ladyjacks answered by outscoring the Cardinals 5-1 and followed with a 4-0 run to extend the lead to eight.
Lamar closed within six after a 3-1 stretch behind kills from
Rihanna Bryant and Malinowska, but SFA answered with a 5-1 run to push its lead to 10.
The Cardinals continued to chip away, getting within seven on consecutive kills from Bryant and Elms, but the Ladyjacks closed the set on a 4-1 run to take a 2-0 match lead.
The third set was the most competitive of the match, featuring 11 ties.
Lamar fell behind 5-1 before using a 4-0 run to even the score. Maksoud recorded two kills, Hill added another, and Malinowska contributed an ace during the rally.
The teams battled through six ties before the Cardinals used a 5-0 run to take a five-point lead.
SFA responded with seven consecutive points to move in front, 20-18.
Lamar twice pulled even late in the set, but the Ladyjacks scored the final two points to complete the sweep.
MATCH NOTES
- Malinowska paced the Cardinals with 12 kills, adding an ace, a block assist and seven digs.
- Martinez recorded 10 kills, two block assists and three digs, while Hill added six kills and four digs.
- Maksoud contributed four kills and four block assists.
- Alexa Gonzalez directed the offense with 16 assists, an ace and eight digs, while Katelyn Hughes finished with 13 assists and five digs.
- Gabby Baker chipped in 10 digs and an assist.
UP NEXT
Lamar returns home Saturday for the finale of its two-match series against Stephen F. Austin. First serve is set for 1 p.m.
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