BEAUMONT, Texas — Lamar University officially begins the season with a 10-game road trip, starting with the two-day Abilene Christian University Invitational Friday-Saturday, Aug. 28-29.
The Cardinals take on Cal State Bakersfield, host Abilene Christian and North Texas.
CARDINALS AT A GLANCE
RECAPPING LAST SEASON:
- The Cardinals finished 17-15 overall and placed fifth in the Southland Conference with a 10-6 league record.
- Lamar's 17 victories were its most since 2008, and the Cardinals posted their first winning conference record since 2011.
- LU also advanced to the Southland Conference tournament in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2010 and 2011 while securing back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2008 and 2009.
- During the season, the Cardinals matched the fifth-longest winning streak in program history with 10 consecutive victories, equaling a mark last achieved in 1990.
HOME SWEET HOME: The Cardinals have posted back-to-back winning seasons at home for the first time since 2014-15, compiling a 15-6 record during that span.
OPENING THE SEASON: LU is seeking its first season-opening victory since 2021 … The Cardinals are opening the season on the road for the fourth consecutive year and are looking for their first season-opening road win since 2008.
POWER FOUR: Lamar's road match at Houston on Tuesday, Sept. 8, marks the program's first against a Power Four opponent since facing Maryland of the Big Ten in 2023 … It will also be the Cardinals' first match against a Big 12 opponent since meeting Texas Tech in 2017.
TOP IN THE CONFERENCE: Last season, the Cardinals ranked among the Southland Conference's top three in six statistical categories, leading the league in digs (2,029) … LU also finished second in service aces (194), blocks (263.5) and points (1,883.5) while placing third in kills (1,426) and assists (1,351).
TURNING THINGS AROUND: Ariel Apolinario has led the Cardinals to a 32-29 record in two seasons, helping reverse a trend that saw the program endure 14 straight losing seasons from 2010-23.
RETURNING LETTERMAN: LU returns eight lettermen including six upperclassmen:
Alexa Gonzalez, Jr., S |
Addison Stanley, Jr., DS |
Emily Moon, Sr., OH |
Riley Johnson, R-Jr., MB |
Kinley Elms, So., OPP |
Jo Moffitt, Sr., S |
Maja Malinowska, Jr., OH |
Gabby Baker, So., L/DS.
NEWCOMERS: The Cardinals added 10 newcomers to the roster, including four transfer portal additions and six true freshmen.
FROM THE PORTAL: Nisaan Martinez, Jr., MB/RS (Alabama A&M) |
Grace Hill, Sr., OH/RS (Texas Southern) |
Kiana Souza, Jr., DS/L (Weatherford College) |
Kimaya Webb, Jr., MB (UT Permian Basin).
TRUE FRESHMEN: Katelyn Hughes, S |
Rihanna Bryant, MB |
Leila Ceaser, OH |
Gabrielle St. Louis, OPP |
Madelynn Coy, OH/OPP |
Saida Maksoud, MB.
ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE: Nisaan Martinez earned Best Opposite honors at the conclusion of the six-day 2026 North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) U21 Pan American Cup … The award marks Martinez's fourth international honor since 2024 … During that span, she has helped Belize capture two gold medals and one bronze medal.
INTO THE RECORD BOOK: Gabby Baker etched her name into the record book last season, recording 602 digs to tie Andrea Hamilton's single-season program record set in 2007 … Baker also led the Southland Conference in digs.
OFFENSIVE CATALYST: Maja Malinowska is closing in on two career milestones, needing 243 kills to reach 1,000 career kills and 133.5 points to reach 1,000 career points … Malinowska led the Southland Conference in both kills (422) and points (487.5) in 2025 … Chelsea Grant was the last Cardinal to surpass 1,000 career kills, recording 1,100 kills from 2013-16.
SETTING THINGS UP: Alexa Gonzalez is approaching a career milestone, needing 193 assists to reach 2,000 for her career … Gonzalez finished third in the Southland Conference with 950 assists last season … Haley Morton was the last Cardinal to surpass 2,000 career assists, posting 2,112 assists from 2015-17.
ROADRUNNERS AT A GLANCE
RECAPPING LAST SEASON: The Roadrunners went 6-24 overall and 3-15 in Big West play last season … CSU Bakersfield lost eight of its final nine matches.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Suelen Lima, Jr., OH (261 kills | 307.5 points | 85 total blocks) | Luiza Da Cruz, Sr., S (656 assists | 24 service aces | 265 digs) … The Roadrunners enter the season under first-year head coach Kristen Wright, who compiled a 117-126 record during eight seasons at North Florida.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
LU vs. CSU Bakersfield: This marks the third meeting between the two teams since 2008 … The Roadrunners won the previous two matchups, defeating the Cardinals in 2008 and 2009.
RECAPPING LAST SEASON: The Wildcats finished 13-17 overall and 5-7 in Western Athletic Conference play, advancing to the conference tournament semifinals … Abilene Christian's 13 victories marked its highest win total in seven seasons.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Hannah Gonzalez, Sr., MB (Preseason All-United Athletic Conference team | First team All-WAC | 295 kills | 93 total blocks) | Brennan Ramirez, R-So., L (All-WAC Freshman team | 478 digs | 25 service aces | 121 assists) | Rachel Koss, Sr., S (Second team All-WAC | 912 assists | 26 service aces).
HEAD-TO-HEAD
LU vs. Abilene Christian: The teams have met 14 times since 2013, with the Wildcats holding an 8-5 series advantage … The Cardinals swept the Wildcats last year, earning their first victory over ACU since Oct. 5, 2019.
RECAPPING LAST SEASON: North Texas finished 21-9 overall and 11-5 in the American Athletic Conference, placing fourth in the league standings.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Loredana Fouonji, Fifth Year, MB (Second team All-American Conference | American Preseason All-Conference | 196 kills | 122 total blocks) | Dakota Mitchell, So., L (American All-Freshman team | 387 digs | 34 service aces | 164 assists).
HEAD-TO-HEAD
LU vs. North Texas: The Cardinals are 16-6 all-time against North Texas since the series began in 1976 … The teams last met Aug. 25, 2012 ... Lamar's last victory over North Texas came on Sept. 19, 2009.
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