Lamar University Athletics

BEAUMONT, Texas — Lamar University opened the Lamar Invitational suffered a pair of losses to the University of North Dakota and UL Monroe on Friday at the McDonald Gym.

Alexa Gonzalez reached a career milestone, recording her 2,000th career assist after finishing the day with 36 assists.

Gonzalez became the first Cardinal since Haley Morton to reach 2,000 career assists. Morton recorded 2,112 assists during her career from 2015-17.
The score was tied six times early in the opening set before North Dakota used a 5-0 run to build a 12-8 advantage.

Lamar answered with a 4-1 run, cutting the deficit to one. The surge was fueled by three consecutive kills from Grace Hill.

After North Dakota extended its lead, the Cardinals continued to battle, scoring three straight points late in the set to pull within one.

Nisaan Martinez and Saida Maksoud each recorded two kills during the rally.

The Fighting Hawks closed the set on a 3-1 run to secure the win.

Lamar fell behind 4-0 early in the second set before using an 8-0 run to take control. Kinley Elms recorded three kills during the surge while Maja Malinowska added two.

The Cardinals stretched their lead to five with three consecutive points, highlighted by a kill from Hill and a service ace by Malinowska.

Lamar moved within a point of evening the match after a service ace from Kiana Souza, but North Dakota answered with a 5-0 run to secure a two-point victory and take a 2-0 lead in the match.

After a 4-4 tie early in the third set, North Dakota used a 6-1 run to build a five-point lead.

The Cardinals responded by trimming the deficit to two, but the Fighting Hawks answered with a 5-0 run to push their advantage to seven.

Lamar pulled within five on a 4-2 run that featured two kills from Martinez.

North Dakota closed the match with six consecutive points to complete the sweep.

MATCH NOTES

• Martinez led the Cardinals with 11 kills while Hill added 10 kills and four digs.
• Elms contributed eight kills, a block assist and four digs.
• Gonzalez paced the offense with 19 assists and two service aces while adding four digs.
• Katelyn Hughes recorded her third double-double of the season, finishing with 11 assists and 12 digs.
• Gabby Baker anchored the back row with 10 digs.

The first set featured seven ties.

Lamar trailed by three points early before using a 5-0 run to take a 10-8 lead. Hill recorded three consecutive kills during the surge while Malinowska added another.

The Cardinals maintained their advantage and led 20-17 before UL Monroe used a 3-0 run to even the score.

Lamar responded with a 3-1 run to move back in front by two points, highlighted by two kills from Malinowska.

The Cardinals were one point away from claiming the opening set, but the Warhawks closed on a 5-1 run to secure the victory.

Lamar grabbed an early 3-1 lead in the second set, highlighted by a hustle play from Gonzalez that resulted in a kill.

UL Monroe answered with a 7-0 run to build an 8-3 advantage.

The Cardinals responded with an 8-0 surge to reclaim the lead at 11-8. Hill recorded three kills during the run while Martinez added two.

Lamar maintained a three-point lead until the Warhawks scored four consecutive points to move in front, 18-17.

The Cardinals regained the advantage at 20-18 behind three straight kills from Martinez.

UL Monroe closed the set on a 7-0 run to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Lamar once again jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the third set behind consecutive kills from Malinowska and another from Martinez.

The score was tied four times before UL Monroe seized control with a 12-0 run, building a 13-point advantage on its way to completing the sweep.

MATCH NOTES

• Martinez led the Cardinals with 14 kills while adding two block assists and a dig.
• Hill and Malinowska each recorded 10 kills.
• Malinowska notched her sixth double-double of the season with 10 digs while also contributing two assists and a block assist.
• Malinowska is five points shy of 1,000 career points and needs 131 kills to reach 1,000 for her career.
• Hughes finished with 21 assists and three digs while Gonzalez added 17 assists, one kill and eight digs.
• Baker contributed 10 digs defensively, and Maksoud posted three block assists, four kills, three assists, three digs and two service aces.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals close out the Lamar Invitational against Sam Houston at 1 p.m. Saturday.