LAKE CHARLES—McNeese volleyball scrapped and clawed tonight but it wasn't enough to hand Stephen F. Austin its first Southland Conference loss of the season as the Ladyjacks picked up the 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-19) to remain undefeated in SLC play at 11-0 and extended their nations second longest winning streak to 21 matches.
 
With the win SFA improved to 24-2 overall while the Cowgirls fell to 7-19 overall and 5-6 in the SLC.
 
"This was a really well played match tonight," said McNeese head coach Ashleigh Fitzgerald. "Both teams laid it out there and there were some tremendous rallies. The margin o victory was really slim tonight as SFA made us pay when we made the slightest of mistakes."
 
McNeese held the lead several times throughout the match but gave up scoring runs that allowed the Ladyjacks to take the lead. Once the Ladyjacks took the lead in all three sets, McNeese wasn't able to put their own runs together to make the comeback.
 
Both teams were scrappy on defense and it showed with 140 total digs (71 for McNeese, 69 for SFA).
 
Both teams had three players with double figure digs with McNeese's Angela McGownd picking up a match high 22. Alexandra Aguilera was credited with 18 and Caitlin Sharrock had 16. Sharrock also dished out a match high 30 digs to complete her double double.
 
Stephen F. Austin capitalized on a few Cowgirls miscues by picking up several blocks. The Ladyjacks ended the match with 14 blocks, all assisted while the Cowgirls had seven.
 
McNeese was led in kills by Katelyn Elliott's match high while SFA's Peyton Redmond led a balanced attack by the Ladyjacks to lead her team with nine kills.
 
The Cowgirls held SFA to its third lowest hitting percent in conference play (.176) this season and held Hanna Makenzee, the league's fifth best hitter to her worst attack percent (.053) in conference action.
 
McNeese will remain home to host Central Arkansas at 11 a.m. Saturday morning.