Match 13 | Lamar (8-4, 0-0 SLC) at Southeastern (8-4, 0-0 SLC)
Sept. 26, 2024 | 6:30 p.m. | University Center (7,500) | Hammond, La.
Series History: Lamar leads, 29-15
Last Meeting: Southeastern 3, Lamar 0 (25-21, 25-13, 25-10) (Nov. 9, 2023 – Hammond, La.)
Television: ESPN+
 
Match 14 | Incarnate Word (7-3, 0-0 SLC) at Southeastern (8-4, 0-0 SLC)
Sept. 28, 2024 | 12 p.m. | University Center (7,500) | Hammond, La.
Series History: Southeastern leads, 8-7
Last Meeting: Southeastern 3, Incarnate Word 0 (25-12, 25-14, 25-16) (Nov. 4, 2023 – Hammond, La.)
Television: ESPN+

HAMMOND, La. – The reigning, two-time Southland Conference Champion Southeastern Louisiana University volleyball team begins its quest for a second-straight regular season title in earnest at home this weekend with Lamar and Incarnate Word making the trip to Hammond, America for the start of SLC play Thursday and Saturday, respectively.
 
Thursday's match between the Lady Lions (8-4, 0-0 SLC) and the Lamar Cardinals (8-4, 0-0 SLC) is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday while Saturday's match against the UIW Cardinals (7-3, 0-0 SLC) will start at 12 p.m. with both matches taking place in the University Center. Both matches will also be televised on ESPN+ with live stats available on LionSports.net.
 
Thursday's match against Lamar is Greek Night where the first 100 students to come to the University Center will receive free three-finger combo from Raising Cane's. Fans will also be able to get an autograph from their favorite Lady Lion following the match. For Saturday's match, The Lady Lions look to turn the U.C. into a sea of green for the Green Out match, asking all fans to wear green when they come out on Saturday.
 
Southeastern enters conference play on an eight-match win streak, coming off a big Friday in Lafayette where SLU swept both Florida A&M and Jacksonville State. Cicily Hidalgo had 10 kills to go with a service ace in the win over the Gamecocks while Hannah Brewer led the team in scoring overall with 12 points on nine kills, two service aces, and a solo block. Alexis Logarbo and India Bennett also had 10 points against Jax State.
 
Hidalgo is the top scorer this season for the Lady Lions, averaging 3.8 points per set. She scores 3.32 kills per set on a .236 attack percentage while also scoring on eight service aces and 22 total blocks. She's also a fixture for the defense, leading the team with 2.75 digs per set to go with her block total.
 
Brewer and Keira Beverly are next on the scoring list, both averaging 2.55 points per set. Brewer puts down 1.93 kills per set and is tied for the team lead in service aces with 11 on the year. She has 26 total blocks this season and averaging 2.28 digs per set defensively. Beverly averages 1.79 kills per set on a .361 attack percentage and does a lot of work on the block as she is second on the team with 45 total blocks on the year.
 
Logarbo is the next big threat offensively for Southeastern, averaging 2.43 points per set on 2.02 kills per set with a .250 attack percentage. She's also key at the net with 35 total blocks this season.
 
On the serve, Lexi Gonzalez is the other half of the team co-leaders in service aces, joining Brewer with 11 while Ashley Richardson is just one behind them with 10 on the season. Richardson has the most set assists for the team this year with 214 while Gracie Duplechein has the higher assist per set average at 5.31.
 
Lamar comes into Thursday's match on a three-match win streak, riding the momentum of winning eight out of its last nine after an 0-3 start to the season. The Cardinals will also bring in the Southland Conference's reigning Offensive Player & Setter of the Week in Maja Malinowska and Alexa Gonzalez, respectively, who proved dominant during a 3-0 week last week which included taking both of the team's matches at Sam Houston State's Bearkat Classic. Malinowska and Gonzalez made their biggest mark in Lamar's five-set win over the host, Sam Houston, with Malinowska scoring 33 kills while Gonzalez had 59 assists in the victory over the Bearkats.
 
Malinowska is Lamar's top scorer, currently averaging 4.63 points per set while getting 4.32 kills per set on a .269 attack percentage. She's also scored with five service aces and 14 total blocks so far this season. She also has the team's second-best digs per set average at 3.16. Lyric Jordan is the next big piece of Lamar's offense, scoring 4.18 points per set by getting 3.85 kills per set to go with five service aces and 14 total blocks.
 
Lamar has three players in double figures with service aces, led by Keeley Nellis with 21. She also leads the team's back line with a 4.71 dig per set average. Gonzalez has 14 to go with her team-leading 10.79 assist per set average. Taisha Rhone has scored 13 aces this season.
 
Ashlyn Gamble and Annie Cathey lead the play at the net for Lamar as both have 31 total blocks on the season. Emily Moon has 18 total blocks while Malinowska, Gonzalez, and Jordan all have 14.
 
Incarnate Word enters its SLC opener at Texas A&M-Commerce on Thursday looking to get back in the win column after dropping the decision in four sets to New Mexico State to close out the NMSU Tournament in its most recent contest. In the loss to the Aggies, Risa Sena was the top scorer for the Cardinals with 19 kills and five total blocks for 22 points. Kyla Malone was the only other UIW player in double digits in points against NMSU, scoring 10 all off of 10 kills.
 
Sena is UIW's top scorer with 3.68 points per set, scoring 3.31 kills per set on a .279 attack percentage to go with 19 total blocks and three service aces.
 
Calissa Allison is the next best scorer for UIW, collecting 2.61 points per set on 2.16 kills per set and a .183 attack percentage. She's also the team's top setter, averaging 5.47 assists per set, server, with 13 aces on the season, and digger, with 3.08 digs per set. She has also been part of eight blocks this season for the Cardinals.
 
At the net, UIW is led by Kade Thomas, who has 35 total blocks on the year. She's joined on the block by Teyhlor Thomas, who has 27 total blocks this season.
 
After this pair of home games to open conference play, the Lady Lions head on the road next week, but don't leave the State of Louisiana, taking on New Orleans and McNeese.
 
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
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