LAKE CHARLES—The McNeese volleyball team will look to extend its winning streak with the Cowgirls return to its Southland Conference schedule Thursday to host Houston Baptist in a 7 p.m. contest.
 
McNeese (9-13, 4-3 SLC) is currently tied for fourth place in the conference race with Southeastern La. The Cowgirls have the league's second longest winning streak (4 matches) behind Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's 10-match winning streak. McNeese will face the Islanders in a 12:30 p.m. match Saturday.
 
Houston Baptist (11-11, 4-4 SLC) is tied for sixth place with Sam Houston State and Abilene Christian.
 
Not only will the Cowgirls look to extend its winning streak but McNeese will also be looking to avenge an early season four set loss to HBU on Sept. 12 at the South Alabama Jaguar Invitational.
 
Senior Malina Sanchez and Kelly Graham continue to lead the Cowgirls in kills and assists. Sanchez has a team high 244 and is averaging 2.90 per set while Graham ranks seventh in the SLC with 763 assists for an average of 8.98 per set. Junior libero Bridget Justis continues to be a force on defense, ranking sixth in the SLC with 341 digs. Justis is averaging 4.01 per set. As a team, the Cowgirls rank fourth in the league in digs behind Texas A&M-CC, Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State.
 
Houston Baptist ranks fourth in the SLC with a .203 hitting percent and 2.26 blocks per set. The Huskies will enter the match having won their last two matches over Incarnate Word and Abilene Christian last week. Jessica Wooten has a team best 259 kills for an average of 3.16 per set. She also leads the team with 222 digs and ranks third in the SLC with 35 service aces. Setter Kayla Armer ranks third in the conference with 2082 assist for an average of 9.47 per set.