BEAUMONT, Texas — Lamar University snapped a three-match losing streak with a thrilling 25-21, 22-25, 25-17, 22-25, 15-11 victory over Houston Christian on Thursday night at McDonald Gym.
The Cardinals fell behind by four points early in the opening set before using a 3-0 run to cut the deficit to one.
Houston Christian pushed its lead to 8-5, but Lamar answered with three consecutive points to tie the score at 8-8.
Grace Hill and
Kinley Elms each recorded a kill during the run.
The teams traded points as the score was tied three more times before the Huskies regained a two-point advantage.
Lamar responded with a 5-0 run to take an 18-16 lead.
The Cardinals closed out the set on a 4-1 run, with
Maja Malinowska and
Nisaan Martinez recording two kills apiece during the stretch.
Houston Christian held a three-point lead early in the second set before Lamar seized control with a 10-0 run to build a seven-point advantage. Martinez fueled the surge, recording six kills during the stretch.
Martinez stayed hot offensively, adding another kill to maintain Lamar's seven-point lead.
The Huskies answered with a 7-1 run to cut the deficit to one.
A Houston Christian service error pushed the Cardinals' lead back to two, but the Huskies responded with a 4-0 run to take an 18-16 advantage.
The score was tied three times down the stretch before Houston Christian pulled away with a 4-1 run to claim the set and even the match.
Lamar began the third set scoring four unanswered points.
Using a 5-1 run, the Cardinals extended their lead to five points with an 11-6 advantage.
Lamar continued its consistency going on a 5-0 run to lead by nine. Malinowska had two kills during the run while
Madelynn Coy served up two aces.
Houston Christian used a 4-0 run to cut the deficit to five points, but the Cardinals did not break as they used a 4-1 run to push their lead to eight.
Hill secured the final two points with a pair of kills to put Lamar ahead 2-1 in the match.
The fourth set featured seven ties.
Lamar built an early 4-1 lead behind two kills from Malinowska and one apiece from Elms and Martinez.
Martinez later recorded consecutive kills to help the Cardinals maintain a three-point advantage before Houston Christian used a 5-1 run to take a 9-8 lead.
The Cardinals answered by outscoring the Huskies 5-1 to reclaim a three-point edge.
Lamar later stretched its lead to six with four consecutive points, highlighted by kills from Malinowska and
Saida Maksoud and an ace from
Alexa Gonzalez.
Houston Christian responded with a 6-1 run to trim the deficit to one and later scored four unanswered points to move in front.
Lamar regained the lead at 22-21, but the Huskies closed the set on a 4-0 run to force a decisive fifth set.
After five ties early in the fifth set, Lamar took control with a decisive 5-0 run to build a 14-8 advantage.
Houston Christian rallied to cut the deficit to three, but Malinowska delivered the match-clinching kill to secure the Cardinals' five-set victory.
MATCH NOTES
- Martinez finished with a season-high 20 kills, three block assists and one solo block. She has recorded 65 kills over her last four matches, averaging 4.0 kills per set during that stretch.
- Malinowska posted her eighth double-double of the season with 20 kills, 15 digs and three assists.
- Hill added 14 kills, four digs and one solo block while Elms finished with nine kills and two digs.
- Katelyn Hughes recorded her fourth double-double with 25 assists and 10 digs.
- Gonzalez notched her first double-double of the season with 24 assists and 13 digs.
- Coy added three service aces and four digs.
- Gabby Baker anchored the back row with a season-high 26 digs.
- Head coach Ariel Apolinario improved to 8-6 in his career in five-set matches.
UP NEXT
Lamar returns to action at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, when it hosts Incarnate Word.
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