HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Lamar University recorded its first victory of the season Friday morning, sweeping Southern University, 25-12, 26-24, 25-17, to open play at the Southern Miss Invitational at the Southern Miss Wellness Center.
The win snapped a 10-match losing streak dating to the end of last season.
Lamar jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the opening set behind consecutive kills from
Kimaya Webb.
The Cardinals later used a pair of 3-0 runs to build a five-point advantage before extending the lead to 10 with five unanswered points, highlighted by kills from
Rihanna Bryant and
Maja Malinowska.
The Cardinals closed the set with a 5-1 run to stretch the lead to 13.
Grace Hill fueled the surge with two kills while
Nisaan Martinez added another.
Hill capped the set with a kill to secure the win.
Southern opened the second set on a 2-0 run before Lamar responded with five straight points to take control.
After the Jaguars used a 4-1 run to tie the score at 6-6, the Cardinals answered with three consecutive points, highlighted by kills from
Kinley Elms and Bryant.
Southern later trimmed the deficit to one, but Lamar pushed the lead back to four with three unanswered points and eventually extended the margin to six following a 4-1 run.
The Jaguars battled back with a 7-1 surge to even the score at 18-18.
The teams were tied five more times before Lamar closed the set on a 3-0 run to take a 2-0 match lead.
Southern carried that momentum into the third set, building a four-point advantage early.
The Cardinals responded with a 6-0 run to take a 10-8 lead, with Elms recording two kills and Bryant adding another during the stretch.
Lamar gradually pulled away, using a three-point run to extend its lead to five.
Emily Moon and Martinez delivered back-to-back kills during the run.
The Cardinals later put the match away with a 6-1 surge to build a nine-point cushion before Elms recorded the match-clinching kill to complete the sweep.
MATCH NOTES
- Lamar posted a season-best .302 hitting percentage and finished with a match-high 44 kills.
- The Cardinals' last match with a hitting percentage above .300 came against McNeese, when they recorded 46 kills and hit .346 on Oct. 30, 2025.
- Bryant led the offense with a season-high 10 kills and added four block assists.
- Martinez chipped in eight kills and two block assists.
- Elms and Hill each recorded seven kills while Hill added eight digs.
- Malinowska finished with six kills and 10 digs.
- Katelyn Hughes directed the offense with 21 assists while adding four digs and a service ace.
- Alexa Gonzalez contributed 17 assists and four digs.
- Gabby Baker paced the defense with 19 digs and recorded two assists and two service aces.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals return to action Friday evening when they face tournament host Southern Miss at 6:30 p.m.
#PeckEmCards
