BEAUMONT, Texas — Lamar University continues its road trip this weekend at the Liberty Mountain Madness tournament in Lynchburg, Va.

The Cardinals open tournament play Friday against host Liberty before closing the weekend Saturday against High Point.
OFFENSIVE CATALYST: Maja Malinowska is closing in on two career milestones, needing 202 kills to reach 1,000 career kills and 88 points to reach 1,000 career points … Chelsea Grant was the last Cardinal to surpass 1,000 career kills, recording 1,100 kills from 2013-16 … Malinowska ranks second in the Southland Conference with 41 kills and 45.5 points … She recorded her 34th career double-double and ranks second on the team with 32 digs.

TOP BLOCKER: Saida Maksoud ranks third in the Southland Conference with 13 total blocks … Maksoud recorded a match-high seven block assists against North Texas on Aug. 29.

LEADING THE WAY: The Cardinals lead the Southland Conference with 28 total blocks, including six solo blocks and 44 block assists … Last season, the Cardinals ranked among the Southland Conference's top three in six statistical categories, leading the league in digs (2,029) … LU also finished second in service aces (194), blocks (263.5) and points (1,883.5) while placing third in kills (1,426) and assists (1,351).

PINPOINT SERVICE: Katelyn Hughes is tied for the Southland Conference lead with six service aces … Hughes also ranks second on the team with 42 assists and third with 23 digs.

SETTING THINGS UP: Alexa Gonzalez is approaching a career milestone, needing 143 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 50 assists.

GO, GABBY, GO: Gabby Baker ranks eighth in the Southland Conference with 34 digs … 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.

TURNING THINGS AROUND: Ariel Apolinario has led the Cardinals to a 32-29 record in two seasons, helping reverse a trend that saw the program endure 14 straight losing seasons from 2010-23.

POWER FOUR: Lamar's road match at Houston on Tuesday, Sept. 8, marks the programs first against a Power Four opponent since facing Maryland of the Big Ten in 2023 … It will also be the Cardinals' first match against a Big 12 opponent since meeting Texas Tech in 2017 … Lamar is 103-186-3 (.358) all-time against current Power Four programs and has faced 54 different schools … The Cardinals' last victories over teams now classified as Power Four opponents came in September 2002 against Houston and Boston College.

RETURNING HOME: Lamar has won its 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 opens its home schedule Friday, Sept. 18, against North Dakota in the opening match of the Lamar Invitational.
CATCHING UP: The Flames began the season 2-1, winning their last two matches over Akron and East Tennessee State at the Buccaneer Classic in Johnson City, Tenn. … Liberty most recently fell in four sets to Virginia on Tuesday.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Paige Overcash, Jr., OH (45 kills | 49 points) | Laney Daniell, So., MB (44 kills | 52.5 points) | Layla Collins, Jr., MB (14 total blocks) | Melis Ural, Fr., DS/L (52 digs) | Allison Bierwagen, So., S (95 assists).

RECAPPING LAST SEASON: Liberty posted a 20-10 overall record and finished 8-8 in Conference USA play ... The Flames were selected to finish second in the Conference USA preseason poll … Senior outside hitter Jenna Otts, junior outside hitter Carly O'Brien and Overcash earned spots on the Conference USA Preseason All-Conference Team after each received second-team All-Conference honors in 2025.
Lamar vs. Liberty: This marks the first meeting between the two programs in school history.
CATCHING UP: High Point opened the season with a 1-2 record, earning a five-set victory over UConn before most recently falling to No. 13 Penn State in five sets.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Elodie Lalonde, Jr., OH (Big South Preseason Player of the Year | 34 kills | 38.5 points) | Remy Catojo, So., S (Big South Preseason Co-Setter of the Year | 96 assists | 12 total blocks) | Maya Bukovcan, So., MB (20 total blocks | 31 kills | 45 points) | Kea Whillock, Sr., DS (52 digs).

RECAPPING LAST SEASON: The Panthers have won three straight Big South regular-season and tournament championships … High Point finished the 2025 season with an 18-10 overall record and a 12-2 mark in Big South play.
LU vs. HPU: This will be the second meeting between the two programs and the first since 2004 … Lamar won the previous matchup in straight sets.