Lady Cards Return Home to Host SHSU and SFA :: Lamar volleyball faces tough tests against West division foes

Oct. 19, 2006

BEAUMONT - The Lamar University volleyball team returns to the Montagne Center this weekend, as they host Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin on Friday and Saturday in two important Southland Conference matches,

The Lady Cardinals take the Montagne Center floor for the first time in nearly a month Friday night, when they take on the Bearkats at 7:30 p.m., and finish off the weekend with a 7:30 showdown with the Ladyjacks.

Lamar enters the weekend with an 8-14 overall record and a 4-3 record in SLC play. The Lady Cards are coming off two losses, falling 3-2 at Texas State and 3-1 at UT-Arlington.

The Lady Cards have been led offensively by senior Buchi Okoh who has knocked down 290 kills (3.92 per game) and a .335 hitting percentage. Junior Molli Abel has added 208 kills (3.25 per game), while junior Courtney Mitchell and sophomore Lauren Rush have knocked down 137 and 111 kills respectively. The setting duties have been split between freshman Adrianne Meengs and sophomore Ashley Todd, with the two passing out 490 and 433 assists respectively.

Defensively, Lamar has been led by Alex Brink's team-high 288 digs, while Andrea Hamilton and Meagan Adams have picked up 230 and 129 digs respectively. At the net, the Lady Cards have been led by Okoh's 92 blocks (1.24 per game), while Mitchell and freshman Ariel Drake have posted 53 and 46 blocks respectively.

Sam Houston enters Friday night's match with a 9-9 season record, and a 4-4 mark in conference play. The Bearkats won both of their matches last week, knocking off Southeastern Louisiana 3-0 and Nicholls State 3-0.

Sam Houston is led by Lindsey Roebken and Cynthia Yarotsky who have knocked down 227 and 205 kills respectively, while Megan McNamara and Jackie Melinder have passed out 501 and 327 assists. The Kats have been led defensively by Melissa Sims 333 digs, while Yarotsky has picked up 249 on the year.

Sam Houston defeated Lamar twice last year, knocking off the Lady Cards 3-0 in Huntsville and 3-1 at the Montagne Center.

Stephen F. Austin enters the weekend as the top team in the Southland Conference, boasting an overall record of 18-3 and a 7-0 mark kin SLC play. The Ladyjacks have won 14 straight matches, having dropped just eight games within those matches.

The Ladyjacks are led by Traci Rhode's 299 kills, while Lauren Railey and Shelly Swilling have each chipped in with 263 and 205 kills this season. The SFA offense is triggered by setter JJ Jones who has passed out 947, while their defense is anchored by Stephanie Figgers, who has collected 486 digs this season. Rhode is also a force at the net for the Ladyjacks, posting 103 blocks this season.

Stephen F. Austin defeated the Lady Cards three times last season, knocking out LU 3-0 in all three matches, including the first round of the SLC tournament.