BEAUMONT, Texas — Lamar University opened conference play by sweeping LSU New Orleans 25-17, 25-19, 25-20 Thursday night at McDonald Gym.
The win marked the Cardinals' first conference-opening victory since a four-set triumph over Incarnate Word on Sept. 25, 2018.
In the opening set, Lamar built an 8-5 lead behind kills from
Maja Malinowska and
Nisaan Martinez.
The Cardinals stretched the advantage to seven with a 6-0 run highlighted by three consecutive service aces from
Madelynn Coy and kills from
Grace Hill and Malinowska.
Back-to-back kills from Hill pushed Lamar's lead to 21-12, its largest of the set.
The Cardinals closed out the 25-17 victory on a 3-0 run behind kills from Hill and
Kinley Elms and another service ace from Coy.
After LSU New Orleans scored the first three points of the second set, Lamar responded with a 6-0 run fueled by two service aces from Coy and kills from Malinowska and
Kimaya Webb.
The Privateers kept the set close, tying the score four times before the Cardinals regained control with a 3-1 run highlighted by two kills from Hill.
Lamar then used a pair of 4-0 runs to build an eight-point lead and secure the set, taking a 2-0 advantage in the match.
The Cardinals held a four-point lead early in the final set before the Privateers used a 5-0 run to take a one-point advantage.
After the score was tied four more times, Lamar responded with five consecutive points to build a four-point lead.
Malinowska and Martinez each recorded a kill during the surge while
Alexa Gonzalez added a service ace.
The Cardinals extended their advantage to seven points late in the set.
LSU New Orleans trimmed the deficit to four with a 3-0 run, but the rally came too late as Lamar closed out the match.
MATCH NOTES
- Malinowska recorded her eighth match with at least 10 kills, leading the Cardinals with 16 kills and adding seven digs. She is now 105 kills shy of the 1,000-career-kill milestone.
- Hill and Martinez each finished with eight kills, while Martinez added three block assists.
- Elms contributed seven kills and four digs.
- Coy totaled six service aces and six digs.
- Katelyn Hughes paced the offense with 16 assists and chipped in six digs.
- Gonzalez added 15 assists, two service aces and eight digs.
- Gabby Baker led the defense with 11 digs while also recording five assists.
UP NEXT
Lamar continues conference play Saturday when it hosts Southeastern Louisiana. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. at McDonald Gym.
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