BEAUMONT, Texas — After winning three of its last four matches, Lamar enters the Lamar Invitational with momentum on its side.

The Cardinals will host North Dakota, UL Monroe and Sam Houston in the annual tournament Friday and Saturday at McDonald Gym.
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 INVITATIONAL: Lamar will host North Dakota, UL Monroe and Sam Houston at the 2026 Lamar Invitational … Since 1990, Lamar has periodically hosted its own tournament, beginning with the Babe Zaharias Classic … During that span, the Cardinals have compiled a 31-18 record in home tournament play … Lamar swept the field with a 3-0 record in 2025, securing the program's first undefeated finish at its home tournament since 2019.

OFFENSIVE CATALYST: Maja Malinowska is closing in two career milestones, needing 147 kills to reach 1,000 career kills and 23.5 points to reach 1,000 career points … Chelsea Grant was the last Cardinal to surpass 1,000 career kills from 2013-16 … Malinowska ranks sixth in the Southland Conference with 96 kills and 110 points … She ranks second on the team with 87 digs.

SETTING THINGS UP: Alexa Gonzalez is approaching a career milestone, needing 36 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 157 assists.

BLOCKING THE OPPOSITION: Saida Maksoud leads the team with 30 blocks while she ranks fifth in the Southland Conference … As a team, Lamar ranks first in the Southland Conference in block assists with 131 and third in total blocks with 73.5.

PINPOINT SERVICE: Katelyn Hughes is tied for fourth in the Southland Conference with 12 service aces … Hughes also ranks second on the team with 134 assists.

GO, GABBY, GO: Gabby Baker ranks fifth in the Southland Conference with 143 digs while Lamar sits fifth in the league with 486 total digs … Baker is 255 digs shy of reaching 1,000 for her career … Megan Schwartz is the last Cardinal to record 1,000 career digs, totaling 1,283 from 2010-14 … 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.

BEST IN BELIZE: Nisaan Martinez ranks second on the team with 82 kills and 25 total blocks … 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.

SUCCESS AGAINST THE SWAC: Three of Lamar's last four matches came against Southwestern Athletic Conference opponents Southern, Jackson State and Prairie View A&M … The Cardinals are 62-3 all-time against SWAC opponents.

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. CATCHING UP: North Dakota enters the weekend with a 4-4 record, having won three of its last four matches against Mercer, Cal Baptist and Sacred Heart … Two of those three victories came in five-set matches.

LONE STAR STATE: This weekend marks North Dakota's first trip to the Lone Star State since 2023, when the Fighting Hawks competed in a tournament hosted by Abilene Christian.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Ellee McIntosh, Fr., OH/MB (81 kills | 90 points) | Reagan McIntosh, Jr., S (279 assists | 10 service aces) | Olivia Edlund, Sr., OH (33 total blocks | 23 block assists | 10 solo blocks | 11 service aces) | Haley Patton, Fr., L/DS (95 digs).

RECAPPING LAST SEASON: The Fighting Hawks finished the 2025 season with a 7-20 overall record and a 4-12 mark in Summit League play … North Dakota's last winning season came in 2017, when it posted a 30-8 record and advanced to the NCAA regional in Minneapolis.
Lamar vs. North Dakota: This marks the first meeting between the two schools … With this weekend's matchup, the Cardinals will have played each of the four Division I programs from the Dakotas … Lamar is 1-5 all-time against programs from the Dakotas, with its most recent matchup coming Sept. 16, 2019, when the Cardinals swept South Dakota State in Beaumont.
CATCHING UP: UL Monroe enters the weekend with a 4-6 record after dropping four of its last six matches … The Warhawks have won two of their last three contests, posting four-set victories over McNeese and Mississippi Valley State … UL Monroe is 2-2 against Southland Conference opponents this season, with matches against East Texas A&M and Northwestern State also on its schedule.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Abby Cunningham, Sr., RS/OH (99 kills | 111 points) | Aniya Hall, So., OH (91 kills | Nine service aces) | Morgan Howard, Sr., S (213 assists) | Tatum Clay, Fr., MB (37 total blocks | 27 block assists | 10 solo blocks) | Eden Pietrzak, So., L/DS (111 digs).

RECAPPING LAST SEASON: The Warhawks finished the 2025 season with a 10-20 overall record and a 1-15 mark in Sun Belt Conference play … UL Monroe's last winning season came in 1989, when it competed in the Southland Conference. Lamar vs. UL Monroe: This will be the 31st meeting between the two programs since 1983, with Lamar holding a 23-7 advantage in the all-time series … The Warhawks have won the past three meetings, including five-set victories in 2021 and 2025 … Lamar's last win over UL Monroe came Sept. 7, 2019, when the Cardinals recorded a sweep … UL Monroe was a member of the Southland Conference from 1982 until joining the Sun Belt in 2006.
CATCHING UP: Sam Houston is off to a 6-4 start after opening the season with victories over Cal State Fullerton, Miami (Ohio) and McNeese … The Bearkats have since lost three of their past four matches, falling to Stephen F. Austin, Tarleton State and Denver.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Chloe Monson, So., OH (142 kills | 157 points) | Brenlin Garlitz, Fr., S (182 assists) | Lauren Pyle, Jr., S (168 assists) | Rachelle Reed, Sr., RS/OH (47 total blocks | 41 block assists) | Shaelin White, Jr., DS/L (158 digs).

RECAPPING LAST SEASON: Sam Houston finished the 2025 season with an 11-18 overall record and a 3-13 mark in Conference USA … The Bearkats' last winning season came in 2021, when they were members of the Western Athletic Conference … Sam Houston finished 18-10 overall and 10-3 in conference play that season, earning a berth in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC).

TOP COACH IN THE NATION: Brenda Gray enters her 43rd season at Sam Houston, making her the longest-tenured active head coach in the subdivision … During her tenure, Gray has amassed 793 career victories and guided the Bearkats through three conference transitions.
Lamar vs. Sam Houston: This is the 96th meeting between both programs … Sam Houston holds a 57-38 record against the Cardinals since 1976 … The Bearkats have won eight of the last nine matches since 2016 … Lamar's last victory came in five sets on Sept. 20, 2024 … Sam Houston competed in the Southland Conference from 1987 until departing for Conference USA following the 2021 season.