LAKE CHARLES—A week off proved to be beneficial for the McNeese volleyball team who picked up their second Southland Conference victory of the season with a straight set (25-19, 25-22, 25-13) win over Nicholls Saturday.
 
McNeese (11-12, 2-6 SLC) used a .261 hitting percent in the opening set to take an early lead in the 25-19 first set win.
 
McNeese opened the second set with two service aces by Malina Sanchez but Nicholls came back to take the lead 11-10 and extended it to 21-15.  McNeese's defense stepped up as did its offense to come back to tie the set a 22.  A Nicholls attack error gave the Cowgirls a 23-22 lead before a Carly DeMarque kill McNeese a 24-22 lead.  A block by DeMarque and Shelby Poehls gave the Cowgirls the second set win.
 
The Cowgirls closed out the match and picked up its first Southland Conference straight set win with a 25-13 third set win.
 
Sophomore Rebecca Korenek led the Cowgirls with 10 kills.  Amber Fryer chipped in with eight kills and led McNeese with a .300 attack percent.  Malina Sanchez led the Cowgirls with 10 digs while DeMarque led all players with four blocks.