LAKE CHARLES- The McNeese volleyball team will conclude its Southland Conference road schedule this week with another three-match week that will begin with a 7 p.m. match at Incarnate Word on Tuesday. The Cowgirls will move closer to home for a 7 p.m. match Thursday at New Orleans before closing out the week with a 2 p.m. match at Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday.
McNeese (10-14, 5-4 SLC) enters the week in fourth place in the league standings behind Texas A&M-CC, Central Arkansas, and Stephen F. Austin. The Cowgirls who were picked to finish 9
th/11
th in the preseason polls have won five of their last six matches and are coming off a four set loss to league leading Texas A&M-CC on Saturday. The loss snapped a five match-winning streak which tied the longest home winning streak in program history. The last time a team won five consecutive home matches was during the 2007 season.
The Cowgirls will face Incarnate Word (6-13, 4-6 SLC) who is ineligible for postseason play for the first time this season. The two teams will meet again in Lake Charles on Nov. 7. The match at UNO (12-13, 2-7 SLC) will also be the first of two against the Privateers this season. UNO will come to Lake Charles on Nov. 10. McNeese will look to even things up with Southeastern La. when they meet on Saturday. The Lions picked up a five set win over the Cowgirls in Lake Charles on Oct. 6. UNO will face Mississippi Valley State in a non-conference match Tuesday before its match against McNeese. Southeastern La. will face Nicholls Thursday before its match against the Cowgirls Saturday.
Seniors
Malina Sanchez and
Kelly Graham along with junior libero
Bridget Justis and freshman
Monica Hudgins continuing to lead the Cowgirls in respective categories.
Sanchez leads the team with 268 kills (2.95 kps.) and is second on the team with 238 digs and 17 service aces. Graham leads the team and ranks seventh in the SLC with 705 assists for an average of 8.92 per set. Justis ranks sixth in the SLC with 3.87 digs per set while Hudgins leads the team with 76 blocks.
