Lamar sports information and The News

HOUSTON — Storming back from an early deficit, Lamar’s volleyball team showed true grit Saturday in its final match of the Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup by forcing a fourth set against a one-loss Houston team. The Cards won the third set and were competitive in the fourth, but ultimately fell in the fourth to the host university.

Tomar Thomas continued her strong senior season with 14 kills, five digs, four block assists, and a service ace, representing 17 of LU’s 57.5 total points. She was joined in the double-digit kill club by Ivette Dim, who recorded 10 kills and five block assists. The Cardinal future also shown bright on Saturday with Abigale Nash recording seven kills and six digs and Kyla Rogers totaling 22 assists and six digs.

Early struggles dogged the Cards (2-6) through the first set, which Houston took 25-13. The second set was led by the Cougars the whole way, but Big Red showed some fight, staying within reach of UH (10-1) until the set point, 25-17.

The Redbirds’ character shown through in the third set; three ties took place before the Cards finally took hold of the lead for good and forced a fourth set with a 25-19 win. Four more ties and one lead change would take place in the fourth set, with LU as close as 18-16 late in the match, but the Cougs would eventually escape with a win, 25-18, in the pivotal set to take the match 3-1.

Lamar returns to action on Sept. 11 with Prairie View A&M. Originally scheduled to take place at Prairie View, circumstances have forced a relocation to McDonald Gym. The Cards will have one more non-conference tournament, the LMU/Long Beach State tourney, before opening conference play at Abilene Christian on Sept. 20.

CORNELL 3, LAMAR 0 (FRI.)

Two Cardinals hit over .400 in Friday’s Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup opener, but it wasn’t quite enough for Lamar’s volleyball team. LU fell to Cornell in three sets at the University of Houston tournament.

Ivette Dim had six kills on a .455 hitting percentage and totaled three blocks, and Abigale Nash poured in four more on a .600 attack percentage in the one set she played in, but Cornell outhit the Cards as a team .329 to .171. Tomar Thomas had seven kills, six digs, two aces, and one block, and Alyssa Legette and Kyla Rogers continued to split time as the setter with each totaling 12 assists.

Lamar held an early lead in the first set, then the Big Red Bears came storming back to tie the set at 19-19. Six straight points in favor of Cornell gave the Bears a 25-19 victory in the first set.

Cornell pulled away early in the second set and won 25-12, and though LU put up a strong fight in the finale, the Redbirds didn’t have quite enough to force a fourth set, falling 25-22 in the third.

 

HIGH SCHOOLS

PNG 3, LIVINGSTON 0 (FRI.)

Kaitlyn Gil’s 20 kills and Liz Bolyard’s 16 set host Port Neches-Groves on course during a 25-19, 25-23, 25-22 home win over Livingston in non-district play.

Holly Jones made 21 assists and served eight points with one ace for the Indians (22-4). Teammate Harlee Barnwell assisted on 17 points, served seven and dug four.

Also for PNG, Halley Smith and Bayja Newby each made 15 digs, Bolyard blocked two, and Maylin Louvier served eight points with one ace.

PNG will host Cleveland on Tuesday.

 

NEDERLAND 3, WOODVILLE 1 (FRI.)

In Woodville, Meg Sheppard’s 24 service points and 19 kills paced the Bulldogs (15-13) past the Eagles in non-district action.

Sheppard also served up four aces.

Karley McGill was active on offense with 11 kills and three blocks, Destyn Miguez recorded 21 digs and two aces and Jenna Jarrett made 22 assists.

The Bulldogs will resume district play at home against Barbers Hill on Tuesday.