HAMMOND, La. – A balanced attack by Southeastern Louisiana was not enough Thursday as the Lady Lions dropped its home and Southland Conference opener in five sets, 25-21, 22-25, 25-21, 18-25, 15-13, to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at the University Center.
 
The tightly-contested match featured 40 ties and 17 lead changes as Southeastern (2-6, 0-1 Southland) repeatedly wiped out several deficits. One last rally by the Islanders (4-4, 1-0 Southland) proved to be the difference in the fifth and final set.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi pulled away late in the initial set, scoring the final four points. The Lady Lions did much of the same in the second set, scoring four of the final five points.
 
Bouncing back, A&M-Corpus Christi rattled off nine-straight points to open the third set. The Lady Lions clawed back, scoring 12 of the next 13 points, taking a 12-10 lead. The Islanders, however, responded with seven consecutive points to regain the lead for good, 17-12.
 
Southeastern ran away with the fourth set, scoring 14 of the final 19 points to force the deciding set. The teams battle back and forth in the final set, enduring nine tie scores before A&M-Corpus Christi battled back from a 12-11 deficit to claim the match.
 
SLU NOTES

• Five different Lady Lions contributed double-digit kills, including Jodi Edo (11), Caroline Golden (11), Sam Gomez (10), Jolie Hidalgo (10) and Ryan Maddera (10). It marked a career high for Maddera, a junior transfer from Evans, Colorado.
• Golden (13 digs), Baylee Laskoskie (37 assists, 10 digs) and Maddera (10 digs) each turned in a double-double.
• Maddera also served up a team-leading four aces.
• Alexis Pratt, a junior from Houston Texas, turned in a match-high 21 digs. She was one of five Lady Lions to reach double-figures, including freshman Lizzy Low (11).

 
UP NEXT
Both Southeastern and A&M-Corpus Christi will participate in the SLU Lion Up Classic, playing a round-robin schedule Friday and Saturday against California Baptist (1-5) and Jackson State (3-5).
 
Admission to all matches at the University Center this week is free. Fans are asked to enter the arena at Gate 3. Lady Lion volleyball posters and magnet schedules will be available in the Fan Zone.
 
The new Southeastern Sports Network will offer a free video stream of each Southeastern match this week. Watch all the action online at www.LionSports.net or the Lions' Gameday Experience app for Android or iOS devices. Fans can also watch on Southeastern's YouTube channel (/SLUathletics) with any mobile, tablet or smart TV device (e.g., Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV and Roku).
 
Live stats are available for every match in the SLU Lion Up Classic. Links are 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. Lion volleyball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
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 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Lady Lions Volleyball, follow @SLU_VBall or @JWhiteSLU on Twitter, @Southeastern_vb on Instagram, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
 
SLU LION UP CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Friday (all matches at the University Center)
11 a.m. – California Baptist vs. Jackson State
2 p.m. – Jackson State vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
6 p.m. – California Baptist vs. Southeastern Louisiana
 
Saturday (all matches at the University Center)
11 a.m. – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. California Baptist
2 p.m. – Jackson State vs. Southeastern Louisiana