FLORENCE, Ala. | The Grambling State University volleyball team dropped the first two sets, before winning the third, but it wasn't enough to slow down Lamar in a 3-1 loss to conclude play on Saturday at the UNA Volleyball Classic at Flowers Hall. 

Grambling State (2-4) dropped an opening thrilling first set, 25-23, and fell behind by two sets as Lamar (2-3) took the second set, 25-16. The Lady Tigers refused to go away quietly, taking the third set, 25-22. However, the Cardinals controlled the fourth set to claim the match with a 25-14 victory. 
 

HOW IT HAPPENED 
First Set 

• Lamar jumped out to an 8-4 lead after a kill by Paige Dugan 
• Grambling State rallied and tied the set at 11 after a service ace by Ana Calderon 
• The Lady Tigers took advantage of a bad set by Kaitlyn Gil to grab a 21-20 lead 
• However, the Cardinals closed out the set by outscoring the Lady Tigers, 5-2, to earn a 25-23 win 

Second Set 

• Grambling State raced out to a 7-2 advantage 
• Lamar battled back and answered with a 5-0 run to force GSU to call a timeout 
• The Cardinals started to get some distance and took a 16-12 lead after a kill by Nylah Encalade 
• Lamar extended the margin to 22-15 after another kill by Encalade 
• Grambling State could not recover in a 25-16 

Third Set 

• Lamar grabbed an early 9-6 lead, taking advantage of an attacking error by Zyonn Smith 
• Grambling State rallied and tied the set at 10 after a block solo by Haley Gomez 
• The Cardinals broke the tie and took a 14-11 lead after a kill by Encalade 
• The Lady Tigers scored the next three points, capped by a block assist by Destiny Thomas and Maggie Plush, tying the set at 14 
• A kill by Hillary English gave GSU the 15-14 advantage 
• With the two teams battling back and forth, Grambling State grabbed a 21-19 lead, taking advantage of an attacking error and a block solo by Gomez 
• Lamar never recovered as Grambling State pulled away to take the set, 25-22 

Fourth Set 

• Lamar opened the set on a 4-1 run  
• Grambling State closed the gap to 7-6, but the Cardinals scored the next four points to push the margin to 11-6 
• Lamar continued to stretch the advantage, extending the lead to 16-8 
• The Lady Tigers cut the deficit to 19-13, but that would be as close as GSU would get 
• Lamar continued to extend the lead, winning the set 25-14 
   

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Grambling State finished with 43 kills in 145 total attacks, with 26 errors (hitting .117) 
• The Lady Tigers tallied 53 digs, 38 assists, 10.0 total team blocks and five service aces 
• Jayden James led the offense with 12 kills 
• Ana Calderon and Hillary English recorded 18 and 15 assists apiece 
• Zyonn Smith paced the defense with 19 digs 
• Lamar finished with 57 kills in 135 total attacks, with 21 errors (hitting .267) 
• The Cardinals registered 65 digs, 51 assists, 10.0 total team blocks and five service aces 
• Paige Dugan paced three Cardinal players in double-digit kills with 18 
• Wiktor Warpechowska and Kaitlyn Gil added 15 and 13 kills, respectively  
• Landon Hatch recorded a double-double of 48 assists and 11 digs 
• Dugan and Gil each added 12 digs 
• Grace Luevanos led the defense with 13 digs and Giselle Santini chipped in 11 
   

UP NEXT 
Grambling State takes a week off before returning to action at the Blue Raider Invitational, hosted by Middle Tennessee State. The Lady Tigers open play on Friday with an 11 a.m. match against Middle Tennessee State, which will be streamed live on CUSA TV. GSU concludes the first day at 4 p.m. against UT-Martin. Grambling State wraps up play on Saturday, with an 11 a.m. match against Belmont. 

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