BEAUMONT, Texas — Stephen F. Austin completed a season sweep of Lamar University with a 25-22, 26-24, 25-15 victory Saturday afternoon at McDonald Gym.
The Ladyjacks have won 24 consecutive meetings against Lamar dating back to 2012, including six straight sweeps. SFA has not dropped a set to the Cardinals since Oct. 16, 2021.
SFA remains part of a four-way tie for first place in the Southland Conference, while Lamar is tied for seventh.
The opening set featured nine ties.
Lamar scored the first three points, capitalizing on consecutive attack errors.
After a kill from
Grace Hill, the Cardinals maintained a three-point advantage before SFA used a 4-0 run to take an 8-7 lead.
The score was tied three more times before the Ladyjacks outscored Lamar 4-1 to build a 14-11 advantage.
The Cardinals answered with a 3-0 run, highlighted by two kills from
Nisaan Martinez, to even the score.
SFA regained the lead with four straight points, but Lamar responded with a 4-0 run to tie the set at 18-18.
The Ladyjacks moved back in front before the Cardinals used a 3-0 run, fueled by two kills from Hill and one from Martinez, to take a 21-19 lead.
SFA closed the set on a 6-1 run to claim the opener.
The second set featured eight ties. Lamar used a 5-0 run to grab an 11-7 lead.
Maja Malinowska,
Riley Johnson and Hill each recorded a kill during the surge, while
Madelynn Coy added a service ace.
The Cardinals remained in front and later held a three-point lead thanks to kills from Martinez and Hill.
Lamar extended its advantage to 21-16 after a 4-1 run that included kills from Hill and Malinowska and an ace from
Gabby Baker.
A kill by
Kinley Elms moved the Cardinals within three points of leveling the match, but SFA answered with a 4-0 run to tie the score at 22-22.
Lamar regained a one-point edge at 24-23 on a kill from Martinez, but the Ladyjacks scored the final three points of the set to take a 2-0 lead.
SFA seized control of the third set with an early 5-0 run for an 8-3 advantage.
Lamar trimmed the deficit to three points behind two kills from
Saida Maksoud, a kill from Coy and a service ace from Malinowska.
The Ladyjacks put the match out of reach with an 8-0 run to build an 11-point lead and complete the sweep.
MATCH NOTES
- Malinowska led all players with 12 kills while adding five digs and a service ace.
- Martinez recorded nine kills, three digs and a block assist, while Hill added seven kills.
- Katelyn Hughes dished out 18 assists and collected five digs, while Alexa Gonzalez finished with 16 assists and five digs.
- Baker paced the Cardinals' defense with 10 digs and added three assists and a service ace.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals will host their final two home matches of the season, beginning with a 6 p.m. contest against Nicholls on Thursday, Nov. 5.
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