Lamar sports information
LAKE CHARLES — Ivette Dim led the way offensively Tuesday as the Lamar volleyball team fought through the Battle of the Border, the Cards’ annual rivalry with McNeese State. Big Red came within inches of winning the first set before ultimately falling to the Cowgirls in three sets.

Dim recorded 11 kills on a .625 hitting percentage, and Tomar Thomas had another seven kills. Alyssa Legette recorded 23 of the team’s 28 assists, and Erin Pequeno totaled 10 digs.

Trailing 10-3 early in the opening set, Lamar came storming back with a 12-5 run to tie the match at 15-15. McNeese State would retake the lead several times, but each time the Cardinals answered, tying the match again at 23-23. Unfortunately a Cardinal service error and a Cowgirl kill ended the Big Red threat, and McNeese won the game 25-23.

The Cards would again try to rally from an early deficit in the second set, but McNeese held just enough of an advantage to keep out front. Big Red pulled within six, 21-15, but four consecutive points went to McNeese to end the set 25-15.

Lamar took an early lead in the fourth, 4-3, but then began to trade one point for every two from the Cowgirls. McNeese overtook the Cards and then grew its lead to 13-8 before Lamar managed to win three straight. A 7-1 run by McNeese again put Lamar in an almost impossible position, and McNeese eventually won the final set 25-14.

The Cards return to action in their final road game of the season on Thursday in a Cards vs. Cards battle at UIW.