HOUSTON, Texas— Timely blocking including a career high 11 from sophomore Allison Lippert and six from senior Ebony Lewis helped McNeese volleyball to a tightly contested 3-1 (26-28, 26-24, 25-19, 27-25) Southland Conference win over Houston Baptist Thursday night.
 
With the win, McNeese improves to 7-17 overall and 5-4 in league play. HBU falls to 10-13 overall and 3-6 in the SLC.
 
"This was the response we wanted after a rough match against Incarnate Word on Tuesday," said head coach Ashleigh Fitzgerald. "HBU played with great defensive intensity and they pursued balls hard but we got timely blocks and played well in big moments, especially the last few points of the fourth set."
 
With the Cowgirls trailing 24-22 in the fourth set, a kill by Katelyn Elliott brought McNeese to within one then Lippert came up with a huge solo block to even the set at 24. A McNeese service error gave HBU the 25-24 lead but a Keegan Nelms tied it up again at 25. McNeese took the 26-25 lead on a HBU error then freshman Paige Havel's solo block was the match winner for the Cowgirls who picked up the 27-25 fourth set win.
 
Junior Angela McGownd also picked up a career high 37 digs to lead all players. Nelms and Elliott led McNeese in kills with Nelms picking up 14 and Elliott recording 10. Nelms ended the night with a double double by picking up 14 digs.
 
Sophomore Caitlin Sharrock also picked up a double double with 20 assists and 14 digs.
 
McNeese will conclude its road trip at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday in a 1 p.m. match.