HOUSTON – Each set was tightly contested, but McNeese fought past HBU for a 3-1 (26-28, 26-24, 25-19, 27-25) victory in Southland Conference volleyball Thursday night at Sharp Gym.
Sophomore outside hitter
Mikayla Vivens had 15 kills, nine digs, five blocks and three aces for the Huskies (10-13, 3-6 SLC). Sophomore middle blocker
Megan Patillo posted eight kills, six digs and five blocks, while senior middle blocker
Kayla Davenport had eight kills and four blocks. Senior setter
Madison O'Brien recorded 39 assists, 10 digs and six kills. Freshman outside hitter
Catherine Drapela added five kills and sophomore right side
Ashtyn Richey and senior right side
Courtney Kankel each had four. Junior libero
Hannah Lewis came up with 24 digs and freshman defensive specialist
Cici Collins had 13.
Keegan Nelms double-doubled with 14 kills and 12 digs and Katelyn Elliot had 10 kills for the Cowgirls (7-17, 5-4). Allison Lippert had eight kills and put up 11 blocks. Paige Havel chipped in with eight kills and Ebony Lewis had seven kills and six blocks. Angela McGownd had 37 digs and Caitlin Sharrock had 20 assists, 14 digs and four kills.
McNeese hit .169 for the match and held HBU to .096. The Cowgirls outdug the Huskies, 80-74, and outblocked them, 14-10. HBU had 10 aces and 13 service errors and McNeese had four aces and nine errors.
The Cowgirls had set point in the first at 24-23, but the Huskies scored the next two for a set point of their own. With the set tied 26-26, a service error by McNeese gave HBU a one-point lead and a block by Davenport and Drapela gave the Huskies the set win.
The second set was tied at 24-24, but a service error by O'Brien put the Cowgirls at set point and Lippert and Sharrock put up a block for a 26-24 decision to tie the match at a set apiece.
McNeese scored 10 of the first 11 points of the third, but HBU battled back and tied the set at 16-16. From there, the Cowgirls scored the next seven points and closed out the set, 25-19.
HBU had set point in the fourth at 24-22, but a kill by Elliott and another block by Lippert tied it at 24-24. The Huskies had a one-point lead after a service error by the Cowgirls, but McNeese scored the last three on a kill by Nelms, an HBU attack error and the final point on a solo block by Havel.
The Huskies return to action when they host Lamar on Homecoming Saturday at 1 p.m. at Sharp Gym. Fans with a ticket to Saturday's football game against Stephen F. Austin will receive free admission to the volleyball match.
