Lamar sports information
BEAUMONT — The Lamar Cardinals, behind 16 kills from Tomar Thomas and 17 digs from Amy Hollowell, rebounded from a slow start to claim their first Southland Conference women’s volleyball victory of the season, a 3-1 decision over visiting Southeastern Louisiana at McDonald Gym on Tuesday night.

The Cardinals (3-12 overall, 1-4 Southland) dropped the first set by a 25-13 score before roaring back to take the next three sets by scores of 25-22, 25-21 and 25-15.

“In the past, we were a team that if we lost the first set like that, we’d lose the second set like that before fighting hard in the third set,” LU coach Alan Edwards said. “We knew we were better than we showed in the first set, and we came out and proved it over the next three sets.”

The Cardinals had four players in double figures in kills. In addition to the 16 by Thomas, LU received double-digit efforts from Ivette Dim (12 kills), Murielle Hlavac (11 kills) and Bre’Ala Box (10 kills).

The Cardinals also turned in a solid defensive game. LU collected 60 digs, led by Hollowell’s 17 and 12 from Haley Morton. Morton finished the night with a double-double, adding 46 assists to her 12 digs.

Southeastern Louisiana (2-18, 0-6) came out on fire in the first set, hitting .458 to roll to an easy win in the opening set. LU’s defense stiffened after that, as the Lions hit no better than .163 in any set the rest of the way, finishing the night with a .199 hitting percentage.

Savannah Alcazar led the Lady Lions with 12 kills.