ARLINGTON, Texas—McNeese volleyball placed second here Saturday at the Texas-Arlington Classic after its straight set win (25-13, 25-16, 25-14) over Southern to finish tournament play with a 2-1 record. Senior Jenny D'Alessandro and sophomore Keegan Nelms were both named to the all-tournament team.
 
"This was a nice way to start the season," said head coach Ashleigh Fitzgerald. "Like all first weekends, it gave us an opportunity to really see areas where we can improve. Overall, I thought we were really steady and showed a lot of growth and maturity since last fall. Four players also got their first official collegiate start which was awesome. Now we are looking forward to getting back to Memorial and getting back to work with this experience behind us," Fitzgerald said.
 
The Cowgirls took advantage of 10 Southern errors and the serve of Nelms as she served for six straight points to give McNeese an early 11-4 lead in the opening set. Three straight serves by freshman Allison Lippert who earned her first career start extended the Cowgirl lead to 14-6.  The Cowgirls continue to stay within its game plan behind the serve of Angela McGownd to score five straight points for a 24-11 lead. A Southern serving error gave McNeese the first set. McNeese was active at the net in the set and collected six block assists.
 
McNeese continued its attack in the second set and came away with a 25-16 win. Once again, the Cowgirls went on several scoring runs that Southern couldn't break. McNeese took an early 11-6 lead before going on a 14-8 run to take the set and a 2-0 overall match lead.
 
In the final set, Southern took the early lead and held as much as a 10-6 lead before the Cowgirls mounted their comeback and eventually tied the set at 11 all. The Cowgirls scored eight straight points behind Adison Giambrone's serve to take an 18-11 lead. McNeese went ended the match by going on a 7-3 lead to take the set 25-14 and the the match.
 
D'Alessandro led all players with a match high 10 kills and a .625 hitting percent. She was errorless in 16 attempts. Rae Myers produced a .600 hitting percent with seven kills on 10 attempts with one error.
 
For the second straight match, Adison Giambrone picked up a double-double with a match high 19 assists and 14 digs. Caitlin Sharrock added 10 assists and two service aces while Nelms added 12 digs.
 
McNeese began the final day of the Texas-Arlington Classic with a hard fought straight set loss (25-23, 25-16, 27-25) to host Texas-Arlington to even its record to 1-1.
 
UTA took an early lead but the Cowgirls took advantage of two Maverick errors and kills by Alyssa Oswald and Nelms to take a 19-17 lead in the opening set. Following a Shanna Spree kill that gave McNeese a 22-21 lead, the Mavericks ended the set by outscoring the Cowgirls 4-1 to take the first set.
 
UTA opened the second set by taking a 10-5 lead and the Cowgirls never got into a rhythm as the Mavericks took a 2-0 match lead with a 25-16 second set win.
 
The Cowgirls responded early in the third set by taking a 6-2 lead behind the serve of Madison Fontenot. McNeese held its lead until the Mavericks tied the set at 20 apiece. A kill by Ebony Lewis regained the Cowgirl lead, 21-20 but a UTA kill tied the set at 21 all. The match would tie up four more times before taking a 26-25 lead on a Cowgirl error then the win on a Qiana Canete kill for the 27-25 third set win and the match.
 
Nelms led the Cowgirls in kills for the second straight match with eight while D'Alessandro produced a team best .429 hitting percent on seven kills, one error in 14 attempts along with three blocks. Giambrone produced her first double-double of the season with 11 assists and 11 digs. McGownd added 10 digs.
 
McNeese will host Southern in its home opener next Wednesday beginning at 7 p.m. at Memorial Gym.