HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Lamar University closed out the Southern Miss Invitational with its second victory of the tournament, sweeping Jackson State 25-15, 25-23, 25-21 on Saturday afternoon at the Southern Miss Wellness Center.
The Cardinals got off to a hot start in the opening set, using a 4-0 run to build a three-point lead.
Nisaan Martinez recorded two kills during the run while
Maja Malinowska added a kill and
Saida Maksoud served an ace.
Lamar extended its advantage to seven points with a 5-0 run. Malinowska added two more kills during the surge.
The Cardinals pushed the lead to 10 points by scoring four unanswered points. Martinez added a kill and teamed with Maksoud for two key blocks.
Lamar closed out the set with consecutive kills from
Kinley Elms and Malinowska.
The Cardinals faced adversity in the second set, trailing by five points late.
Lamar responded with a 7-1 run to tie the score at 22-all.
The rally included service aces from Malinowska and Maksoud, along with kills from Malinowska, Martinez and
Madelynn Coy.
The Cardinals completed the comeback with a 3-0 run to close the set, capped by a kill from Elms.
Lamar scored four unanswered points to open the final set. Coy started the run with a solo block before Martinez added a kill and Malinowska served an ace.
Jackson State answered with a 4-0 run to knot the score at 8-all.
The teams traded points throughout the remainder of the set, with the score tied five times.
The Cardinals also overcame a three-point deficit during the stretch.
Lamar completed the sweep with a 4-0 run, capitalizing on three consecutive Jackson State attack errors.
ALL-TOURNAMENT: Malinowska and Martinez were both named to the Southern Miss Invitational All-Tournament team ... Malinowska finished the weekend with 33 kills, 33 digs and three service aces while Martinez recorded 25 kills and nine total blocks.
MATCH NOTES
- Malinowska recorded her fifth double-double of the season, finishing with 13 kills, 11 digs and three service aces.
- Martinez added 11 kills and five block assists while Elms chipped in nine kills and five digs.
- Coy contributed four kills and two blocks as Lamar outblocked Jackson State, 19-10.
- Maksoud paced the Cardinals at the net with seven block assists and added three service aces, two kills and two digs.
- Gabby Baker anchored the back row with 16 digs.
- Jo Moffitt directed the offense with 19 assists while Alexa Gonzalez finished with 15 assists, five digs and a service ace.
UP NEXT
Lamar wraps up its 10-match road trip Tuesday with a 6 p.m. match at Prairie View A&M.
#PeckEmCards
