Lamar sports information

SAN ANTONIO — Hanging tough in a battle featuring two Cardinal teams, Lamar’s volleyball team came just a few points short of victory in sets one and two Thursday against The University of The Incarnate Word. LU’s Cards fell in three sets to UIW’s Cards.

Ivette Dim recorded 12 kills in the match, her ninth match this season with at least 10 kills. The senior hit at a .476 attack percentage and also recorded two blocks. Tomar Thomas had nine kills, one ace, and one block, and Alyssa Legette recorded 30 assists. Erin Pequeno had 14 digs, her 13th match this season with double-digit digs.

Lamar took an early led to open the match but eventually fell behind the “other” Cardinals, trailing for the first time at 6-5. UIW would extend its lead to as much as five, 13-8, before Lamar began to fight back into the set. Big Red pulled within two points of UIW, 19-17, and kept within striking distance for the rest of the game. But UIW would take three of the final four points in the set to come out on top, 25-20.

The second set was incredibly close as the two Cardinal volleyball programs battled it out on the court. 14 ties took place, including LU’s tie at 21-21 that led to Big Red’s first lead in over 10 points at 22-21 Lamar. Unfortunately one more tie remained in the match as UIW knotted it up at 22 points apiece, and the next three points also went UIW’s way, giving the second set to the Cards from San Antonio, 25-22.

Close early out of the break, UIW started to take hold of the third set after a 6-6 tie. The “other” Cards used an 11-4 run to lead at 17-10, and that lead grew to as much as 11 points, 22-11, before Lamar strung together a few points. In the end Incarnate Word won the set 25-16 and the match in three sets.

Lamar will wrap its 2018 season next week with its final two matches, both of which will take place in the friendly confines of the McDonald Gymnasium. The Cards will celebrate their seniors on Nov. 8 in a 7 p.m. match against Northwestern State, and that will be followed by a 10 a.m. match against Southeastern Louisiana.