HAMMOND, La. – Playing in front of the largest home crowd in the Southland Conference this season, Southeastern Louisiana rallied to defeat Lamar in four sets, 19-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-18, Thursday in the University Center.
 
Buffeted by an enthusiastic homecoming crowd of 1,203, the Lady Lions (2-17, 1-6 Southland) bounced back from a five-point deficit in the second set.
 
Already down one set to Lamar (6-12, 3-4 Southland), Lady Lion head coach Jim Smoot called a timeout with Southeastern trailing 13-8 in the second. Coming out of the timeout, a Cardinal service error put an end to a 9-3 run by the visitors.
 
Outside hitter Caroline Golden, a sophomore from Mandeville, Louisiana, recorded consecutive kills to get the Lady Lions headed in the right direction.
 
An 8-2 run put Southeastern up 16-14, but the Cardinals would regain the lead. The Lady Lions rallied again, tying the set, 21-21, on another kill by Golden before scoring the next four points to tie up the match.
 
In the third set, a 12-2 run gave the Lady Lions a commanding 18-8 lead and helped fend off five-straight points by Lamar.
 
A feisty Cardinal team would not go down without a fight, jumping out to a 6-1 lead in the fourth set, but Southeastern rallied once again. The Lady Lions tied the set twice before taking the lead, 18-17, and eventually scoring the final four points to wrap up the win.
 
The victory snapped a 16-match skid and handed the Lady Lions their first conference win of the season.
 
NOTES

• Golden recorded the first double-double of her Southeastern career to lead the way, turning in 11 kills and 10 digs.
• Maddy Katchen (Fox River Grove, Illinois) added nine kills while Sam Gomez (Mandeville, Louisiana) and Elyssa Purcell (Alvin, Texas) contributed eight kills each.
• Michelle Mirarchi (Plano, Texas) handed out a team-leading 20 assists and Haley Baker (Elkton, Maryland) dished out an additional 18.
• Baker and Golden served up three aces apiece. The nine total aces were a season-best for the Lady Lions as was a .267 attack percentage.
• Jodi Edo (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), Gomez and Tempestt Vaughn (Beaumont, Texas) each had a hand in three of Southeastern's seven total blocks.
• Alexis Pratt (Houston, Texas) led the Lady Lions with 19 digs.

 
UP NEXT
Southeastern wraps up its current homestand Saturday, hosting McNeese (5-15, 3-2 Southland) in a conference match at noon in the University Center.
 
Admission is free and fans are asked to enter the arena down the ramp at Gate 3. Volleyball posters and magnet schedules will be available in the Fan Zone.

Fans can watch the match live on LionVision, Southeastern's subscription-based video stream, or follow live statistics. Links for stats, video and promotions info are available on the volleyball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.

DIGGIN' IT CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the Southeastern volleyball program are encouraged to join the Diggin' It Club. Lady Lion volleyball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners. S Club members also gain membership in the Diggin' It Club.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Diggin' It Club and S Club (volleyball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern volleyball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at LAA@Southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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