Nov. 20, 2008

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The No. 2 seed Lamar University volleyball team will open the Southland Conference Tournament Friday afternoon at 1:30 when they take on the No. 7 seed Nicholls State at Johnson Coliseum on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.

Friday's match will mark the first time Lamar and Nicholls have faced off in the Southland Conference Tournament. The Lady Cardinals have dominated the all time series with Nicholls, with 20 wins in 26 meetings. In their only meeting this season the Lady Colonels gave LU all they could handle, but the Lady Cards pulled out a 3-2 win in Thibodaux, La.

Lamar holds the third highest winning percentage in SLC Tournament history at .636 with a 21-12 record. The Lady Cardinals have captured two tournament titles, 1983 and 84, and has finished as the runner up five times.

Lamar is led by Shalayne Blythe's 2.24 kills and 0.80 blocks per set, while Kaci Brewer is averaging a team-best 2.41 kills and 2.16 digs per set. Genevieve Gladle is averaging 2.16 kills and 2.86 digs per set, Lauren Holdorff is averaging 2.18 kills and a team-high 0.84 blocks per set while Ashley Todd has paced the LU attack with 8.52 assists per set. Andrea Hamilton leads the defense with 3.76 digs per set.

As a team the LU offense has posted a .201 hitting percentage this season, while allowing their opponents to hit .180. The defense averages 14.77 digs per set and 1.86 blocks per set for the Lady Cardinals.

Nicholls is led by Manieka Golden's 2.42 kills and 2.00 digs per set, while Rachel Yezak has averaged 2.13 kills per set. Their offense is run by Amy Whitehead who is averaging 8.58 assists per set and the defense is led by Danielle Daigle who averages 3.05 digs per set.

As a team Nicholls State is hitting .162 while allowing their opponents to hit .233. On the defensive side the Lady Colonels average 13.15 digs and 1.52 blocks per set.

The winner of Friday's match will face the winner of the match between No. 3 seed UTSA and No. 6 seed McNeese State on Saturday at 1 p.m.