BEAUMONT, Texas — Lamar University travels to Hattiesburg, Miss., this weekend for the Southern Miss Invitational.

The Cardinals open tournament play Friday against Southern and host Southern Miss before closing the event Saturday against Jackson State.
SETTING THINGS UP: Alexa Gonzalez is approaching a career milestone, needing 101 assists to reach 2,000 for her career … Haley Morton was the last Cardinal to surpass 2,000 career assists, posting 2,112 assists from 2015-17 … Gonzalez ranks first on the team with 92 assists.

OFFENSIVE CATALYST: Maja Malinowska is closing in on two career milestones, needing 186 kills to reach 1,000 career kills and 69 points to reach 1,000 career points … Chelsea Grant was the last Cardinal to surpass 1,000 career kills from 2013-16 … Malinowska ranks ninth in the Southland Conference with 57 kills and 64.5 points … She ranks second on the team with 46 digs.

BLOCKING THE OPPOSITION: Saida Maksoud leads the team with 18 total blocks while she ranks ninth in the Southland Conference … As a team, Lamar ranks third in the Southland Conference with 75 block assists and fourth with 43.5 total blocks.

BEST IN BELIZE: Nisaan Martinez was named Best Opposite at the conclusion of the six-day 2026 NORCECA U21 Pan American Cup … The honor marks her fourth international award since 2024 … During that span, she has helped Belize win two gold medals and one bronze medal … Martinez ranks second on the team with 46 kills and 15 total blocks.

PINPOINT SERVICE: Katelyn Hughes ranks seventh in the Southland Conference with eight service aces … Hughes also ranks second on the team with 85 assists.

GO, GABBY GO: Gabby Baker ranks ninth in the Southland Conference with 72 digs … 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.

SUCCESS AGAINST THE SWAC: Three of Lamar's next four matches will come against Southwestern Athletic Conference opponents Southern, Jackson State and Prairie View A&M … The Cardinals are 59-3 all-time against SWAC opponents.

ROAD WARRIOR: Lamar's 10-game road trip is the team's longest since opening the 2023 season with a 12-game road swing.

RETURNING HOME: Lamar has won it past two home openers, in 2024 and 2025, marking the program's first consecutive home-opening victories since 2018 and 2019 … The Cardinals have also posted back-to-back winning seasons at home for the first time since 2014-15, compiling a 15-6 record during that span … Lamar opens its home schedule Friday, Sept. 18, against North Dakota in the opening match of the Lamar Invitational.

HUGE TURNAROUND: Third-year head coach Ariel Apolinario is looking to become the first coach in program history to record three consecutive winning seasons since Justin Gibert accomplished the feat from 2007-09 … Apolinario helped reverse a trend that saw the program endure 14 consecutive losing seasons from 2010-23. Lamar vs. Southern: This marks the seventh meeting between the two teams since 1982 … Lamar is 6-0 all-time against Southern and defeated the Jaguars in straight sets in the most recent meeting in 2025. CATCHING UP: Southern opened the season with three consecutive losses before earning its first victory Tuesday, defeating Southeastern Louisiana in four sets.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sereniti Johnson, So., OH/DS (34 kills | 40 points | 24 digs | Six service aces) | Penina Vito, Jr., S (56 assists) | Maleah Faust, Fr., S (50 assists) | Najah Harris, Sr., L/DS (51 digs | Named second team preseason All-SWAC).

RECAPPING LAST SEASON: The Jaguars finished the season 16-17 overall and 9-7 in conference play, falling to Florida A&M in the SWAC tournament championship game … Southern advanced to its first SWAC tournament championship game since 2014. Lamar vs. Southern Miss: This is just the fourth meeting between both programs since 1997 … Southern Miss has won the last three meetings, including a sweep in 2025. CATCHING UP: Southern Miss opened the season with four consecutive victories before dropping a four-set match to Ole Miss last Saturday.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sadie McAda, Sr., OH (74 kills | 78.5 points | 62 digs) | Allie Hazelwood, Sr., S (191 assists | Eight service aces) | Sunni Sheppard, Sr., L (56 digs) | Lillie Johnson, R-Jr., MB (15 total blocks).

RECAPPING LAST SEASON: Southern Miss finished 17-12 overall and 8-8 in Sun Belt Conference play in 2025 … The Golden Eagles were picked to finish third in the Sun Belt West Division … McAda and Sheppard earned preseason All-Sun Belt Conference honors entering the 2026 season. Lamar vs. Jackson State: This will be the fourth meeting between the two programs since 2007. Lamar has won all three previous meetings, including the most recent matchup in 2015. CATCHING UP: The Tigers enter the match with a 3-4 record and have dropped their last two contests to Chattanooga and Northwestern State.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Hope Briggs, Sr., RS (89 kills | 99 points) | Sophia McKenzie, So., OH (60 kills | 16 service aces) | Naija Gadis, Sr., S (131 assists) | Kayla Troutman, So., S (112 assists) | Giannelle Asomani, So., DS (129 digs) | Jayla David, So., MB (20 total blocks).

RECAPPING LAST SEASON: Jackson State posted a 13-14 overall record and went 12-4 in SWAC play, tying for second in the conference standings.