THIBODAUX—After a tight first set 25-23 win, McNeese volleyball went on the win the next two sets 25-17 and 25-18 to pick up its second win over Nicholls this season here Saturday in Stopher Gymnasium.
 
"Nicholls has taken sets from almost everyone at home this year," said head coach Ashleigh Fitzgerald. "They are really good at Stopher, I'm glad we maintained our composure after a rocky start in set one and played a strong match after that. I was also really happy with our mentality coming out of the break between sets two and three. I think we got better today," Fitzgerald said.
 
McNeese (16-11, 7-5 SLC), picked up its 16^th win of the season, the most wins in the Fitzgerald era since being named head coach in 2014. The loss drops Nicholls to 4-21 overall and 2-10 in conference play.
 
The offense was led by sophomore Shanna Spree who picked up 10 kills and three blocks. Senior Rae Myers produced a season best .750 hitting percent on nine kills without an error in 12 attempts. Setters Adison Giambrone and Caitlin Sharrock dished out 18 and 13 assists, respectively. Giambrone also picked up two service aces while libero Angela McGownd was credited with a match high 21 digs.
 
The first set went back and forth for most of the way until a block assist by Spree and Katelyn Elliott gave McNeese a 24-22 lead. Following a Nicholls timeout, the Colonels picked up a kill to cut the lead to 24-23 but a Nicholls attack error gave McNeese the first set win.
 
In the second set, the match was close in the early stages before McNeese scored three straight points with the score tied at seven to take a 10-7 lead on kills by Jenny D'Alessandro and Rae. Nicholls would cut the lead to two (12-10) but three more straight points by McNeese extended their lead to 15-10. Two straight service aces by Giambrone and kills by D'Alessandro and Myers put the Cowgirls up 22-16. D'Alessandro and Myers teamed for a block assist for a 24-16 Cowgirl lead before another Nicholls hitting error ended the set 25-17 in favor of McNeese.
 
The third set wasn't any different than the previous two as both teams traded points early on before McNeese took the lead for good after scoring three straight points for an 11-8. With the Cowgirls leading 13-10, two kills by Spree and one by Myers put McNeese up 16-10 before McNeese closed out the match outscoring Nicholls 9-8 for the win.
 
McNeese will to action next week for its final two home matches in Memorial Gym before moving into its new facility next season. McNeese will host New Orleans at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2 and Southeastern La. at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 4